About us

Pediocactus
Tiny globous cactuses have ribs layed into puckers and hair like, paper like or wood like thorns. Naked funnel shaped blooms are opening during the day, seeds are relatively big. The area of occurrence is limited to the southwest of the USA. Some species reach to the north, nearly to the borders with Canada. All species rank among hard-grown and therefore they are so valuable and sought - after. Most of the species must be inoculated and their growing can not be recommended to the beginners. (See Cactuses in the nature, Říha, Šubík)

I am mostly interested in planting of Pediocactuses and Sklerocactuses. These resistant flowers can be found in Arizona, Utah or Colorado and it is not difficult to imagine how they can feel in these regions in winter - they are simply cold. Nevertheless, it is an advantage for our climate. When we inoculate these plants on antifreezing rootstock, we can winter them over in unheated rooms, even leave them outside, only under the shelter which is protecting them against bad weather. It is more cost-effective.

Even if I have planted cactuses for thirty years and I have payed most of my attention to them for last fifteen years, my professionalization started only this year.

I like also Uebelmannia which is completely opposite to the previous. They like humid and warm atmosphere. As you can see in my offer, my interest is not reduced on some few species. I still try to extend my collection and to offer some new nice flowers - e.g. Mammilaria which please us with its blooms or Echinocactuses, Ferocactuses which fascinates us with their thorns. I have also some novelties from the genus Turbinicarpus, Yavia, Cintia, Blossfeldia etc.

My collection is settled in two places. The first part is located in a garden colony and takes in 50 square meters. I move the plants every year there. There are several hothouses there. The second part is situated in my two-room flat in Brno, which is now completely full. However, the cactuses are in a glass-in balcony and in my bedroom which serves as a workroom with a cultivation equipment, this is a temporary solution. My life which is reduced now to nine square meters does not satisfy me any more and I am thinking about my future . . .

I am interested in other genuses too - e.g. still underrated Austrocactuses, sometimes called Sklerocactuses. I want to extend my offer to Echinocactuses with their species and Astrophytum and their special supercabuto and onzuko cultivars etc. You can just have a look to make a picture.

I plan to publish a new catalogue of plants (and few seeds too) in autumn. All plants are from my production, I do not get plants from my cactus-fan friends. When I have enough time and I have other prepared plants I am sending special offer of plants in July (but only in electronic version). I had to move the term to September this year because of six-week expedition to Brazil. The plants that will be sold out during the year will be identified at my web pages. I plan to extend my web pages and to add sections Planting and Discussion which could bring new ideas and reactions of professionals and amateurs. I want to offer also consultancy concerning planting, inoculation (which is and my hobby) and my discovering journeys to cactuses. I can give lectures in English, too.

Uebelmannia Buining
Near the city Diamantina, Brazil, high in the mountains, we can find white and grey conspicuous plants, often covered by lichens. Under epidermis we can find short black thorns like a comb (Pectinifera). Yellow blooms are growing from the crown and after pollination create a crimson fruit. (See Cactuses special)

All the best to you, your cactuses, your children, families and partners from Rudy Krajča. www.vzacnykytky.cz.