Requires maximum bright, filtered sunlight for most of the year to maintain a tight, compact, colorful stack. If kept in too much shade, the leaves quickly become overly elongated, dark green, and untidy. Protect it from scorching midday summer sun.
Be very careful—giving it too much water too quickly causes the juicy skin to literal burst and snap, creating permanent, unsightly brown scars. Water moderately from late summer through autumn when active, and keep it nearly bone-dry during spring and winter rest.
Needs an ultra-porous mix of 70% to 80% mineral grit (coarse sand, pumice, and broken slate/quartz) and very little organic soil to replicate the shaley-loamy desert grounds of its homeland.
Enjoys warm conditions but handles cold rest periods surprisingly well. It prefers a minimum winter layout around 5°C to 7°C, but can tolerate brief drops down to -7°C if the soil is totally dry.
