Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinus Broad goat's horns.
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Solitary cactus with a globose body that can become short-cylindrical with age, reaching up to about 15–20 cm in diameter and greater height in adult specimens. It generally presents 7–9 very marked ribs with sharp edges, with large and separated areoles. The green epidermis is covered by numerous small white trichomes that give it a grayish appearance. Sometimes it presents a nudum form. The areoles develop several spines that are wider, more flexible, and browner than in the original botanical species, and resemble goat horns but wider.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to northeastern Mexico, mainly in Coahuila and Nuevo León, where it is part of the xerophilous vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert. It grows on rocky terrain and limestone slopes, among xerophilous scrub, at an altitude of approximately 500 to 1,300 m. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 8b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −7 ºC if it remains completely dry and is properly acclimated. During winter, it is recommended to keep it dormant and with the substrate dry.
☀️ Lighting
It requires very intense lighting during active growth and several hours of direct sun. An approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR allows for compact growth and favors the formation of characteristic spines.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. Its growth is concentrated mainly from spring to early autumn. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. In winter, it enters dormancy and should be kept practically dry. Excess humidity, especially at low temperatures, promotes the appearance of root problems.
🌸 Flowering
It produces large flowers, approximately 6–7 cm in diameter, bright yellow with a reddish inner throat. They develop at the apex and can appear repeatedly during the warm period. In Madrid, flowering mainly begins between May and July. It can rebloom several times per season.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
Xerophyte in a 9x9cm gourmet black pot
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