€15,90

🌱 Morphology
Horticultural name applied to a clone of formally undocumented origin. It forms dense, cespitose masses of numerous globose to short-cylindrical heads, olive green in color, which contrast extraordinarily with fine, pectinate spines of an intense pumpkin-orange color. The spines are arranged very close to the body, forming small lateral fans. The flowers are relatively large compared to the size of the heads and stand out for their dark purple color, creating a spectacular contrast with the plant. Its morphology closely matches plants historically marketed as Sulcorebutia callichroma, although that name alone does not allow for its current taxonomic identity to be established. It has a napiform root.

🌍 Origin, habitat and family
The origin of the commercial clone is not known with certainty. The search for historical material related to Sulcorebutia callichroma reveals cespitose plants from Bolivia, including various field numbers, with specimens having coppery pectinate spines and violet flowers. However, there is no documentation to confirm that the DesertSTORE clone corresponds to one of these field numbers. For this reason, it is prudently maintained as Aylostera ‘Callichroma’, a horticultural name and not a botanical species. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −9 ºC if kept dry and with well-acclimated specimens. When potted, it is recommended to provide extra protection against persistent humidity during cold spells.

☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light and several hours of direct sun, with progressive acclimation. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended. Intense lighting promotes a compact habit and allows the extraordinary contrast between the olive green body and the orange spines to be fully developed.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During the cold months, it is kept dry and well-ventilated. In spring, watering is gradually resumed; during active growth, it is recommended to water deeply and allow the substrate to dry out completely before repeating. In late summer and autumn, watering should be spaced out until the plant returns to dormancy.

🌸 Flowering
It flowers upon reaching maturity at around 3-4 years. The flowers are dark purple, appear around the heads, and multiple flowers can be produced during the flowering period.

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgor, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with a substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

.12x12 cm gourmet black pot

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