Last one, for now, of my blooming Gymnocalyciums. I don't see any buds on the other ones (there is 4 more) so I guess there will be no flowers. Unless they decide to surprise me later on and grow some in the fall. Yep - they can do that too. Few days back I was showing you smaller pink G. damsii and white G. anisitsii
Gymnocalycium Friedrichii
It is also called Gymnocalycium stenopleurum, but I read that this one can have white flowers. Friedrichii is reserved for the pink flowered version.
It is native to Paraguay and normally grows on savanna among shrubs. It likes bright light, but not so much direct light. I didn't notice any change in colour in the body if I keep it more shaded or more in sunny spot - it is always so lovely and red. Usually cacti change colour due to stress. I guess this one is like that, even though I saw online that they can be more green and have the stripes more visible too.
It is a solitary cactus, which means it is less likely it will produce an offshoot. The more possible way for me to propagate it is though seeds. I actually tried to cross-pollinate it with the white anisitsii, but it didn't work. Both dropped their flowers and there was no sign of a fruit. I am not sure if it can be self pollinated, or needs another plant for it (if so I am screwed since I have only one).
The flowers are so pretty! Light pink, with darker tips and almost purple bottom petals. Stunning colour combination! I didn't notice any fragrance on this one though.
Delicate blooms, need good protection ;)
The weapons:
I took both pink ones and shot them together. They both just opened their first flower and had one more bud to come (the little one (G. damsii) is actually growing another, late flower now).
Two days later the second bud started to open before the first one faded. Oh yes.. that is what I was waiting for!
A grand finale :)
My other blooming cacti:
 Chamaecereus hybrid |  Sulcorebutia Canigueralii |  Mammillaria camptotricha |  Mammillaria Glassii |
 Gymnocalycium baldianum |  Mediolobivia mudanensis |  Lobivia Arachnacantha |  Rebutia hybrid |
 Mammillaria Bombycina |  Mammillaria Gracilis Snowcap |  Mammillaria haageana |  Mammillaria backebergiana |
 Chamaecereus silvestrii |  Mammillaria prolifera |  Rebutia Fabrisii var. Aureiflora |  Lobivia Wrightiana |
 Aylostera Flavistyla FR756 |  Parodia concinna |  Mammillaria Copper King |  Gymnocalycium Brushii |
 Mammillaria backebergiana |  Gymnocalycium damsii |  Echinopsis subdenudata |  Rhipsalis pilocarpa |
 Mammillaria Prolifera |  Lobivia arachnacantha v. vallegrandensis |  Mediolobivia atrovirens |  Mammillaria magnimamma |
 Sulcorebutia langerii |  Sulcorebutia frankiana |  Chamaelobivia no ID |  Rebutia Albiflora |
 Mediolobivia atrovirens var. ritteri |  Gymnocalycium damsii var. tucavocense |  Notocactus Ottonis |
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
