Ariocarpus agavoides / 10 seeds (Star Rock, Living Rock)

Ariocarpus agavoides is a small, succulent growing in rosettes of short, stiff, dark green tubercles or pseudo-leaves, on which areoles are uniquely placed halfway out on the upper surface. This plant is native to Mexico and is distributed in the rocky limestone hills at around 1200 m of height in San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Its stem is subglobose, flattened and greenish brown in color, and is up to 6 cm (2.25 inches) in length and 8 cm in diameter. The remaining part of the plant is rootstock growing underground. The arioles at the tips of the tubercles are up to 1.2 cm long. Some specimens have whitish spines up to a cm long, but others lack spines. When plants become 5 to 8 years old, they grow flowers, up to 5 cm long, magenta in color. Their pistils are deep yellow and stamens are white. Flowers turn eventually into globose reddish to purple fruits that are up to 10-20 mm long and 5-12 mm in diameter.

Since Ariocarpus agavoides is listed as an endangered species, it’s illegal to collect it in Mexico and is protected by the state.

Ariocarpus agavoides needs plenty of direct sunlight, but even very intense sun can cause burns. Therefore, you should provide it direct sunlight for a few hours during the day, but keep it in shade during the hottest part of the day. This plant can do well at room temperatures and can even tolerate lower temperatures, as low as -10-degree C.

Since Ariocarpus agavoides grows in alluvial plain where there are rains in summer and soil becomes muddy in summer, it likes a lot of water in summer, but is very prone to rot in other times of the year. So, you should water moderately in spring and fall and no water in winter which is its dormancy period. Soil should be well-drained, non-organic, soil compost. Also, while watering the plant, you should ensure the soil is completely dry between waterings.

You can use a weak low-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season because it will encourage growth but not during the winter dormancy when the plant doesn’t need much of care.

The plant should be kept dry whenever there is a threat of cold. Watering from the bottom can benefit the appearance of the plant a lot. It will help prevent the ‘wool’ on the plant’s top from becoming matted or discolored.

You can propagate Ariocarpus agavoides from seed, but it will usually take around 5 to 8 years to reach flowering size. You can also propagate by stem cuttings.