Parodia haselbergii, commonly called the Scarlet Ball Cactus, is native to the grasslands and rocky outcrops of southern Brazil. It grows in free-draining soils with high sun exposure, experiencing seasonal rainfall and cooler, drier winters.
The plant forms a solitary, spherical stem densely covered in fine white spines, giving it a woolly appearance. The stem is bright to dark green and marked with well-defined ribs. Over time, mature plants may produce small offsets around the base, forming loose clusters.
Flowering occurs in warmer months, producing vivid scarlet-red blooms from the crown, often in succession over the season. These striking flowers contrast sharply with the white spination, making it a popular choice for cactus collections.
Care Tips:
Light: Full sun to bright light for strong growth and abundant flowering.
Water: Water deeply when the soil is dry during the growing season; keep almost dry in winter.
Humidity: Prefers low humidity.
Media: Use a very free-draining cactus mix with coarse sand or grit.
Fertiliser: Feed monthly during active growth with a diluted low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser.
Temperature: Can tolerate short periods down to around 0 °C if kept dry; ideal range is 15-27 °C.
Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in spring, refreshing the mix and checking root health.
Shipping Schedule and Biosecurity Information
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Dispatch & Shipping Information
ALL STATES (including WA, NT, TAS): We now offer a universal, streamlined schedule with two dispatches per week for all regions. This schedule includes all necessary biosecurity treatment and processing for plants sent interstate.
Tuesday Dispatch: Orders placed by Sunday 11:59 PM AEST.
Friday Dispatch: Orders placed by Wednesday 11:59 PM AEST.
Orders placed after these cut-offs will be dispatched on the next available day.
Plant Health Certification (PHC) Fees:
$20 fee applies to WA orders.
$10 fee applies to NT and TAS orders.
This fee is per order (not per plant) and is included in your shipping cost at checkout. It covers the mandatory biosecurity treatments (ICA-29, PS-27, ICA-62) required for interstate compliance.
Important Note: We operate independently from Collectors Corner. For any enquiries, please refer to our Help Centre (Contact Page).
