All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.

Rebutia (pygmaea) colorea  is a clumping plants with beautifully coloured flowers and vigorous growth

Cultivation:  It is easy to grow and recommended for beginners. Prefer gritty, porous mix with a pH slightly on the acidic side. Full sun to light shade, Water regularly in summer but do not overwater (the root system is rot prone) and allow the pot to dry out between waterings. Keep dry in winter Hardy to -4°C it will take low temperatures when dry and do require a winter rest period. This species will occupy a small flower pot comfortably and remain a manageable sized house plant.

Pest and disease: This plants are subject to mealy-bug attack and to fungus and rot problems brought about by overwatering and high humidity.

Note: It would appear that in cultivation they grow larger and cluster more vigorously than in habitat.

Propagation:  seed or offsets.

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Rebutia colorea F. Ritter 1977

Scientific name:  Rebutia pygmaea (R. E. Fries) Britton & Rose 1922

Origin:  Bolivia, Dept. Tarija, Mendez, San Antonio and Abra de Same, near Iscayachi, at 3,500m and Yunchara, 3700 m

Habitat: They grow on steeply sloping ground where water rarely stands for any length of time

Synonyms:  (This species has about 60 synonyms- some which don't really look like the same species)

• Rebutia pygmaea var. colorea (F. Ritter) J. Lode
  In: Cact. Aventures, cf. Repert. Pl. Succ. (I. O. S.), 16: 17; 43: 18 (1992 publ. 1993): 1992

Description: Small geophyte cactus, with a heavy tap root that may exceed the size of the plant above soil level.
Stem: This pygmaea form has dark olive-green to brownish-violet body stems 1 to 2 (4) cm wide, becoming short-cylindrical.
Ribs: 9 to 11 ribs
Spines: all radial, 6 to 8, pectinate.
Flowers: bright, electric carmine to purple.
Roots: tap root.
 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Rebutia pygmaea . (This taxon has lots of synonyms (like most Rebutia) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• R. pygmaea
• R. pygmaea v. diersiana (pygmaea)
• R. colorea (pygmaea)
• R. gracilispina (pygmaea)
• R. haagei (pygmaea)
• R. haefneriana (pygmaea)

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.