Abstract: Two kinds of ball cactus ( Ferocactus horridus and Echinopsis calochlora) were grown in a still hydroponics with four formulae together with a peatmoss medium as control to study the adaptability of those plants to nutrient solution culture. The results showed that two of the ball cactuses tested could growth well in solution culture , in which the growth rate was significantly higher than or equal to that in peatmoss culture. Among the four solution culture formulae , formula 4 had the highest biomass increment and uptake of N , P and Kfor Ferocactu horridus. The biomass of Echinopsis calochlora did not differ significantly among the four formulae , but significantly increased higher than medium culture. This study indicated that ball cactuses could grow well in nutrient solution culture. The nutrient solution culture is a good plantation methods for ball cactus.

Key words: Ball cactus, Adaptability, Still hydroponics, Nutrient solution, Formulae