Astrophytum caput-medusae | Medusa's head cactus
€95,00
🌱 Morphology
Small geophytic cactus, generally solitary, with a fleshy, thickened, fusiform root that acts as a storage organ. The stem is extremely reduced, short, and cylindrical, without clearly differentiated ribs, and normally remains at or slightly below the soil surface. From it, 3 to 8 elongated tubercles emerge, although they can exceptionally be more numerous, cylindrical in section and slightly widened towards the end. They can reach about 15–19 cm in length and feature a grayish-green epidermis covered in small, whitish trichomes. Small spines or bristles appear in young areas, generally inconspicuous. The whole appearance resembles the tentacles on Medusa's head, the origin of the specific epithet.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to northeastern Mexico, mainly Nuevo León, with presence also noted in Tamaulipas. It grows at low altitude, approximately between 100 and 200 m, in the Tamaulipan thornscrub, where it remains partially hidden among vegetation and soil. It is a species with an extremely restricted distribution and is considered Critically Endangered (CR). It belongs to the Cactaceae family.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −7 ºC if kept completely dry and properly acclimatized. During winter, it is recommended to keep it dormant and with a dry substrate.
☀️ Lighting
It requires intense lighting during active growth, although in its natural habitat it grows partially protected by shrubs. An approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR promotes compact growth and good trichome formation. Excessively intense and sudden exposure can cause burns, so it is advisable to perform a progressive acclimatization to direct sun.
💧 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. The thickened root allows for water storage, so it does not need permanent moisture. In winter, it should be kept practically dry, especially when temperatures are low. A highly draining substrate is essential to prevent root rot.
🌸 Flowering
It produces relatively large flowers for the small size of the body, yellow with an orange base, which emerge from the young tubercles. The pericarpel and the floral tube feature scales and whitish wool. In Madrid, flowering occurs mainly between May and July.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low levels of nitrogen is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
Gourmet pot for napiform-rooted plants 7x7x10 cm
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