Cactus Pleiospilos Nelii cv. Royal Flush

The growth of this cactus, the Pleiospilos nelii cv. Royal flush, is almost the same as the Lithops. It is best known as Pleiospilos royal flush and comes from South Africa. It consists of two or four very fleshy purple leaves with very small black relief tips. Two more leaflets appear from the center of the two central leaves, and the old leaflets drying out. The new ones emerge in the warmest months of the year.

The irrigation must be moderate in summer and in winter it must stop providing water, because it is taken from the drying leaves. In summer, it is very important to let the substrate dry completely before irrigation again. If this important point is not taken into account and if the plant does not need it, it is a very direct way of bringing the cactus to death by stinking.

It is a cactus quite ideal for having it outdoors in full sun or for having it indoors in a room where much natural light enters. It should also be noted that the direct sun can burn the leaves and this causes it to dehydrate more quickly to reach the point of death if it is not given some shade.

The flowering is very special, as the flower is very large compared to the cactus format. They are usually pink, with the center of white. It is a flowering that is very easy to lose, because the flower opens in the middle of the afternoon and closes at dusk, at the moment when the sun is hiding.