Parodia leninghausii - Golden Ball Cactus [large] [bare root]

Highlights

Golden Ball Cactus (Parodia leninghausii) (Brandt): A Brazilian cactus named for its gentle yellow spines that give it a soft glow. It is an ideal windowsill plant because of its size and easy growth. It will grow into a tall, columnar cactus if given room, but small pots help keep them a more manageable size. Wild specimens can reach 24.0" tall and 4.0" wide. Originally grown in a 3.5" pot. For protection in transit, this plant ships bare root, wrapped in paper. 

Parodia can tolerate slightly less sun and more water than other types of cacti. Mature plants can unfurl large, yellow flowers atop the tower that are a real treat to behold.

This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot. Pick containers with drainage holes and use well-draining cactus and succulent soil with 70% to 80% mineral grit such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite. Water deeply and wait for the soil to completely dry out before watering again.

Full Cactus Guide

Product Size

Unrooted / Bare Root

Current Primary Color

Yellow / Gold

All Seasonal Colors

Green

Bloom Color

Yellow Bloom

Grow Zone (Hardiness)

Zone 10 (30F)

Recommended Light Conditions

Bright Indoor Light, Full Sun

Maximum Height

Over 12"

Growth Habit / Shape

Vertical Grower / Tall Stem

Special Characteristic

Hard to Kill, Showy Blooms

THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 10+

10

WHAT IS MY HARDINESS ZONE?

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Popular Questions

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2 years ago

Will I receive a blooming frizzle sizzle or a bulb? What size? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

This listing is for a whole potted plant with roots, bulb, and leaves. It will may or may not be blooming when you receive it. They are fully rooted in a 2" square, plastic grow pot and the leaves tend to be about 2"-5" tall at this size. See full answer »

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2 years ago

My albuca has two large floral buds but the foliage is straight, not curly. Why and what can I do? See answer

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2 years ago  •  Staff Answer

The leaves can straighten during flowering. You'll need to allow your plant to go dormant over the summer by withholding water until fall. The old, straight leaves will dry and fall off, but the new leaves that sprout in autumn will be curly again! You can find our video on this plant, with more details, at the link below.
Source: https://youtu.be/ec_7WADQMQs See full answer »

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3 months ago

It is fall here in Texas and my Frizzle Sizzle are blooming now (January), should I stop watering till spring? See answer

They are growing under a grow light inside my home. The leaves have gone straight also. See more »

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3 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes. Allow the old leaves to dry up along with the bloom stalk. When you water again, it'll sprout new, curly leaves. Just be sure it's getting enough light to do so. See full answer »

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3 years ago

Some leaves on my Frizzle Sizzle will not curl, other does good. What's wrong? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Frizzle Sizzle leaves can straighten if the plant gets too much water or too little sunlight. Even a healthy plant will sometimes straighten out after flowering. Fortunately, they have a dormancy period each summer when they should be kept dry so that they can lose their leaves. Curly leaves will re-sprout in the fall when you resume watering. See full answer »

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4 years ago

should you trim albuca Frizzle Sizzle after it blooms? See answer

mine is overgrown and scraggly, plus that bloom stalk is really dry. See more »

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4 years ago  •  Staff Answer

You can! After a Frizzle Sizzle blooms, both the bloom stalk and leaves will die and dry, at which point they can be cut off without harming the plant. You'll want to keep the bulb mostly dry through its summer dormancy. Then resume watering in the fall when new leaves start to sprout. See full answer »

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4 years ago

my fizzle sizzle seems to be blooming,, will it produce seeds? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, Albuca 'Frizzle Sizzle' flowers can produce seeds if they're pollinated. Leave the plant outside for a few hours a day so that pollinators can access it. Just be careful not to shock the plant with any extreme sun, heat, or frost. Put it in a protected spot that gets shade to partial sun. The seeds that develop will be small and just need to be sprinkled on top of soil and misted gently to germinate. See full answer »

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3 years ago

I got my Frizzle Sizzle from MCG a few months ago. The tips/leaves are browning. Is it just going dormant? See answer

If it hasn’t flowered can it still go dormant in the summer? See more »

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes! This is the normal, healthy dormancy process for Frizzle Sizzle each summer. You can keep it in the same spot, but withhold water through summer. The leaves will dry and fall off, then re-sprout in the fall as you resume watering. The great thing about losing leaves each summer is that the new fall leaves will have fresh, tight curls. Give your Frizzle Sizzle plenty of sunshine and infrequent water to keep its leaves curly. See full answer »

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3 years ago

Got my frizzle sizzle in June. It's growing a flower stalk. Repot now? See answer

It's still in the plastic pot from shipping and I haven't watered it, anticipating summer dormancy. Should I give it a little water since it wants to bloom and can I repot now? See more »

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes, you can transplant it into a pot with a drainage hole and use a well-draining succulent soil. Keep it near a sunny window (or outdoors in partial sun if there's no risk of frost). Leave it dry for several days after transplanting, then water deeply enough for water to run out the pot's drainage hole. Once your Frizzle Sizzle has finished blooming, you can withhold all water and leave it to dry for summer dormancy. New, curly leaves will sprout in the fall as you resume watering. See full answer »

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2 years ago

Is the "frizzle sizzle" plant pet friendly? See answer

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7 months ago  •  Staff Answer

We do not list Albuca 'Frizzle Sizzle' as pet-friendly, because it can cause mild digestive issues if consumed. You can shop all our Pet Safe Succulents here. Also, on any category page, you can check the "Pet Safe" filter on the left under "Special Characteristic" to browse only pet friendly varieties.
Source: https://mountaincrestgardens.com/pet-... See full answer »

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10 months ago

can I use it as a houseplant? See answer

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10 months ago  •  Staff Answer

Yes! Frizzle Sizzle does very well indoors. Just be sure it's getting enough light or its leaves will straighten. See full answer »

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