Obesa Cactus

🌿 The Baseball Plant, scientifically known as Euphorbia obesa, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and hails from the arid regions of South Africa's Great Karoo. This peculiar succulent earned its common name from its perfectly spherical shape that resembles a baseball or a small green ball. In its natural habitat, it grows partially buried in rocky soil, camouflaged among stones to avoid herbivores. This is a beginner-friendly plant that requires minimal fussing once you understand its simple needs. Here's something wild: Euphorbia obesa is actually dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female, and you'd need both to produce seeds—though in cultivation, most are grown from cuttings or grafted specimens.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This cactus-like succulent grows in a compact, spherical form that gradually becomes more cylindrical with age. The body is smooth and segmented with eight vertical ribs that create subtle geometric patterns. The surface is a muted grey-green to blue-green colour, sometimes developing purple or brownish tones when stressed by sun or cold. The texture is firm and slightly rubbery to the touch, with no spines or thorns—just a clean, architectural presence that feels almost sculpted.
FLOWER DETAILS
The flowers are tiny, cup-shaped structures called cyathia that emerge from the top of the plant during late spring and summer. They're typically greenish-yellow and lack petals, making them quite inconspicuous and easy to miss. There's no fragrance to speak of, and honestly, most people don't grow this plant for its blooms. The aesthetic appeal lies entirely in the unique sculptural form of the body itself. Flowering happens annually under the right conditions, but it's not a showstopper. You can encourage blooming by providing bright light and slightly reducing water in late winter, though many growers are perfectly content if their Obesa never flowers at all.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light to full sun; needs 4-6 hours of bright light daily, though protect from intense afternoon sun in hot climates to prevent scorching
💧 Water: Water sparingly—every 2-3 weeks in growing season (spring/summer), monthly in fall, and barely at all in winter; wait until soil is completely dry; water from below or around the base, never overhead
🌡️ Humidity: Thrives in low humidity, 20-40% is ideal; typical dry indoor air is perfect
🪴 Soil: Fast-draining cactus or succulent mix with added perlite or pumice; needs excellent drainage to prevent rot
🏺 Potting: Shallow terracotta or unglazed ceramic pot just slightly larger than the plant; repot every 3-4 years in spring, only when rootbound
🌱 Growth rate: Extremely slow; may grow 1-2 cm per year; reaches maximum size of 15-20 cm tall and 8-10 cm wide after many years
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed once in spring with diluted cactus fertilizer (half strength); no feeding in fall or winter
🐾 Pet friendly: No—toxic to cats and dogs; the milky sap can cause skin and eye irritation, stomach upset if ingested, and should be handled with care
WHERE TO PUT IT
Place your Obesa Cactus on a sunny windowsill, a bright desk, or a shelf that gets plenty of natural light—south or west-facing windows work beautifully. It's perfect for small spaces like apartments or condos where you want a low-maintenance statement piece. The compact size makes it ideal for office desks, bathroom counters with windows, or modern minimalist displays. Don't put it in dim corners, north-facing rooms without supplemental light, or anywhere with poor air circulation and high humidity like a closed terrarium.