# # # SPECIAL PLANT # # # (Selected specimen)
Diameter 5,5 cm, h. 3,5 cm. This hybrid is known for its beautiful patterns! It has big white flecks and long spines. Very white form!!

Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Astrophytum Hybrid CAP-SK
(A. capricorne x A. asterias cv. Superkabuto)

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

A beautiful  hybrid with big white flecks and long spines. 

Description: Astrophytum CAP-SK are hybridplants obtained by controlled pollination of A. capricorne  (Female parent) x A. asterias cv. superkabuto (Male parent or pollinator).
Many different hybrids have been developed involving A. capricorne &  'Superkabuto' and are now in cultivation.
The superb features of some of this hybrids are due to the intersection between the traits of the ancestors and make  them very desirable. The more beautiful the pattern and the markings, the more sought after the plant.  Many of the best have inherited from “Supercabuto” very large, white flecks. The ribs are noticeably raised and have more or less long spines, clearly indicating the relationship with A. capricorne.
This hybrid tends to be slow-growing. The flowers are also very beautiful. Compare with the inverse hybrid SK-CAP which is similar but with shorter spines.

Cultivation is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. The plants need  a loose well-drained  mineral soil. They need a good amount of light. Watering can be done weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy, although slow growth. They are frost hardy to -4° (-10°) C

Propagation: By seeds, remembering that  seedlingsdislike strong light and dry conditions  and need to be repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain a maximum size of 8-10 cm (20) cm. Repot the seedlings regularly every 1-2 years,  but after they reach 10 cm in diameter grow them slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 4 years. Additionally grow them under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight. But plants are often grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a five years to reach maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually more flat to the ground.