Rebutia fabrisii after I brought it home from Wagler’s Greenhouse on 3-29-21, #785-13, #785-13.
Rebutia fabrisii
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Synonyms of Rebutia fabrisii (6) (Updated on 12-10-23 from Plants of the World Online): Lobivia famatimensis var. jachalensis Rausch (1977), Lobivia famatimensis var. sanjuanensis Rausch (1977), Rebutia fabrisii var. aureiflora Rausch (1977), Rebutia fabrisii var. nana Rausch (1985), Rebutia famatimensis var. jachalensis (Rausch) Šída (1997)(not validly publ.), Rebutia famatimensis var. sanjuanensis (Rausch) Šída (1997)
Rebutia fabrisii Rausch is the accepted scientific name for this species of Rebutia. It was named and described as such by Walter Rausch in Kakteen und Andere Sukkulenten in 1977.
The genus, Rebutia K.Schum., was named and described as such by Karl Moritz Schumann in Monatsschrift für Kakteenkunde in 1895.
As of 12-10-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 20 species in the Rebutia genus. It is a member of the plant family Cactaceae with 150 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
Note: Some websites list Rebutia fabrisii as a synonym of Rebutia fiebrigii… According to Plants of the World Online Rebutia fiebrigii is now a synonym of Aylostera fiebrigii.
THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AND GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.
Rebutia fabrisii on 3-29-21, #785-14.
I found several pots of these at Wagler’s Greenhouse, one of three local greenhouses. At first glance, I thought they were a Mammillaria species only much smaller so I had a closer look. Luckily it had a tag that said Rebutia fabrisii. Well, I didn’t have a Rebutia of any species, so I selected a nice pot and brought it home.
The cluster measured approximately 1 1/2″ tall (the largest stem) x 3″ wide. It was in a 4″ pot. It was likely in a smaller pot and Wagler’s put it in a larger one.
There isn’t that much online about this species and it is new to me so I don’t know that much about its performance. Llifle (Encyclopedia of Living Forms) says the species has a limited range near Jujuy in Northern Argentina.
One thing I noticed right off was their very small and soft-to-the-touch spines. I can’t even describe anything comparable, but it makes you want to keep touching it. The white-to-yellowish spines don’t stick to your fingers. The stems have multiple rows of distinct tubercles that form a spiral pattern. Llifle says there are about 15 ribs of tubercles while the Wikipedia article says there are no distinctive ribs… As with the Mammillaria species I have, you don’t see the ribs, but the tubercles are prominent. With the Rebutia fabrisii, the tubercles are very small, more like little bumps.
The Rebutia fabrisii produces orange to dark red flowers that are said to be large compared to the size of the cactus. There is a yellow flowering form, Rebutia fabrisii var. aureiflora, but at this bump in the road Plants of the World Online has it listed as a synonym of the species. A smaller version, Rebutia fabrisii var. nana, is also considered a synonym of the species. Judging from the size of the stems in the pot I brought home, I don’t see how it could get any smaller… Normally, if I know the plant I have is a variety or subspecies I use it even though it may not currently be accepted (as long as the name is validly published).
Llifle says they are easy to grow and “prefer deep pots and good drainage to accommodate their taproots, but rot prone, because of the sensitivity to excess watering.” Sometimes information is a bit complicated… Llifle further states, “not easy to get any large size on their own roots (it’s a challenge to grow them into a large clump. They will occupy a small pot comfortably, and eventually remain a manageable-sized houseplant.” Hmmm…
Llifle is a great site for cacti and it gives plenty of information about growing this species. Just scroll down the page and click on LLIFLE. There is a lot more you need to know about growing this species that I will have to be careful about…
Rebutia fabrisii is still at 1 1/2″ tall on 8-17-21, #826-40.
I normally take photos and measurements of the cactus (and some of the succulents) when I bring them inside for the winter in October. Since I was taking photos for a post on August 17, I decided to go ahead and take measurements of the plants on the front porch. The Rebutia fabrisii still measured 1 1/2″ tall and the cluster is still 3″ wide. A week (or so) later it appeared it was having a growth spurt… Information on LLIFLE does say they “may go dormant during the heat of the summer and start growing again once temps start cooling off in August. Well, August was really hot for the most part, but September brought cooler temperatures.
Unfortunately, the Rebutia fabrisii didn’t survive the winter inside. Maybe I will run across another one and give it another shot.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Family: Cactaceae
Origin: Near Jujuy in Northern Argentina.
Zones: USDA Zones 9b-11 (25 to 40° F/-3.8 to 4.5° C).
Size: Hmmm…
Light: Sun to part shade.
Soil: Fast-draining. Good quality potting soil amended with pumice (50/50) or additional pumice and chicken grit (2-1-1).
Water: Regular watering in the summer and very little if any during the winter. Prone to rotting if overwatered.
This species has A LOT of rules. Reading the growing recommendations on websites, especially LLIFLE (see link below), will be very helpful.
You can read my Cactus Talk & Update and Cactus & Succulent Tips to get my opinion about growing cactus and succulents.
When you bring your new plants home from the store, you need to check their roots and the soil to see if they are wet. If so, you may want to re-pot it right away. It is advisable to re-pot them in a better potting soil more suitable for cacti and succulents.
I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions I would like to hear from you. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading. The links take you directly to the genus, species, and/or cultivar of this plant. If you notice I made an error, please let me know. Of course, you can always send me an email at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com.
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