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All about Strombocactus disciformis

Scientific name: Strombocactus disciformis (De Candole) Britton & Rose 

Etymology: The genus name "Strombocactus" derives from the Greek word “strombos”  meaning ""fir cone, spinning top” treferring to the shape of the plants, and the word “cactus” (an old genus name)
( The genus name implies: "fir cone cactus "). 
The species name "disciformis" derives from the Latin adjective“disciformis” which means “disk-shaped, circular, flat,”   ( The specific name implies: "disk shaped")

Origin: Mexico ( Quetaro, Hidalgo and Guanajuato )

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix I

Habitat: In nearly vertical limestone cliffs and slopes.

Strombocactus disciformis grows in central Mexico in shadow localities, often in crevices on vertical gypsum canyon-walls fulfilled with acidic soil. On the contrary the northernmost Strombocactus jarmilae grows on limestone and likes more alkaline soils and full sun exposures.

Common English Names: Top Cactus

Hardiness: USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F), USDA Zone 11:above°C (40 °F)

These are gorgeous, slow-growing, miniature plants from Mexico. Seed grown and on their own roots, they reward us for our patience by providing flowers from Spring and throughout the Summer. Their reputation for being hard to grow isn't really justified, at least for adult plants...

Don't over-water during the warm periods of the year and hold back on the temptation to water during the colder time of the year. Grow best in a good mineral substrate without a lot of humus.

Propagation: Almost exclusively by seeds. But the seedlings are tiny and very slow growing and at first  they take one or two years to reach the diameter of 1 mm!!!  Once they have reached 4 years old or more they are relatively easy to grow, the problem is getting them to 4 years old! Than they reach 2 cm of diameter in about 6/8 years, and require very careful watering. Plants need 8 to 10  years to reach the flowering size. 
Sometime, older specimens may shoot tillers from under tubercles, so they can be propagated by cuttings in spring (but rooting may prove a challenge).  Plants are sometimes grafted onto column-shaped cacti, which is a much easier way of propagation than sowing.

This plant is from the same sowing as on the picture for sale, but is grafted 9 months earlier 

 Strombocactus disciformis Ø1-1.5 cm, grafted.  You can buy it for $15.50                              There is extremely amount of plants  

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