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 and Biosecurity Information
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Dispatch:
Orders are processed in scheduled weekly runs.
VIC, QLD, NSW, SA & ACT: Sunday 11:59 pm cut-off. Orders are generally prepared from Monday and dispatched by Thursday. Allow up to 9 working days for processing.
WA, TAS & NT: Thursday 11:59 pm cut-off for Friday treatment. Orders are generally prepared from Monday and dispatched by Thursday. Allow up to 10 working days for treatment, certification and processing.
Dispatch dates are not guaranteed and may be affected by biosecurity requirements, weather, public holidays, order volumes and plant preparation.
Express Shipping speeds up transit after dispatch only. It does not speed up processing, treatment or certification.
Biosecurity Fees:
WA & TAS: $20 per order
NT: $10 per order
Fees are included at checkout and help cover mandatory plant treatment and health certification.
Important:
Where certification is required, a physical address must be supplied for traceability. Delivery to a PO Box is still allowed.
Collectors Online operates independently from Collectors Corner.
