In understanding the relative lack of Ariocarpus cultivars in cultivation, one needs only to compare Ariocarpus with the genus Astrophytum. Both genera are small but have interesting variations within the species and both are extremely popular. Not only do they appeal to the general public, they often take up sizeable percentages of space in the greenhouses of hardened collectors. Few other genera elicit the focused devotion of Astrophytum and Ariocarpus , yet while many interesting cultivars of Astrophytum exist, only a few of Ariocarpus can he found. Let's take Ariocarpus scaphirostris versus Astrophytum myriostigma , for example.
Most cultivars arise from seedlings and occur sparingly in even the best circumstances.
Astrophytum myriostigma seed is sown by the tens of thousands annually just in the USA, and these seedlings can grow to flowering size in 2-3 years without the aid of grafting, so interesting traits can easily be magnified and selected. Seed sown of Ariocarpus scaphirostris , on the other hand, number in the tens or hundreds, and only with the aid of grafting can these plants he flowered in less than 5-8 years. Additionally, most Ariocarpus species are rot-prone, thriving only when provided with high light and heat. Another factor that oddly enough has kept Ariocarpus from being grown in quantities commercially was the availability of collected specimens. The remainder of the genus could be collected and exported legally until June of 1992, when they were also given Appendix I status.