€37,10

🌱 Morphology
Horticultural form of Cereus forbesii characterized by the helical growth of its ribs, which produces stems with a true corkscrew appearance. It forms branched clusters from the base, with erect columnar stems ranging from bluish-green to glaucous green, which can reach several meters in height and about 10–12 cm in diameter. It presents 5–9 widely spaced ribs, upon which small areoles with short spines are arranged. In well-developed adult specimens, the spiral shape is especially marked and provides a very characteristic sculptural silhouette.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
The species Cereus forbesii is native to Bolivia and central and northern Argentina, where it grows in dry scrublands, open forests, and seasonally dry arid environments, approximately between 500 and 2000 m of altitude. ‘Spiralis’ is a cultivated form selected for its helical growth and should not be confused with an independent natural population. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −5 ºC if it remains completely dry and is well-acclimated. Although Cereus forbesii comes from regions with significant thermal fluctuations, the ‘Spiralis’ form is considered more sensitive to cold and, especially, to the combination of low temperatures and prolonged humidity.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it needs very high lighting, with an approximate goal of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. Direct sun promotes compact growth and allows the bluish tone of the stems to be preserved. Specimens grown in low light must be progressively acclimated before being exposed to high irradiance.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During spring and summer, it shows vigorous growth, and it is recommended to water abundantly, allowing the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. In autumn, water intake is progressively reduced, and it is kept practically dry during the winter. Excess water combined with low temperatures can cause root damage and rot.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers are large, nocturnal, and scented, white on the inside and with pinkish or reddish tones on the outside. They can reach approximately 20 cm in length. Under favorable conditions, it produces flowers during the summer, followed by fleshy reddish fruits. In Madrid, flowering can occur mainly between June and August.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, is recommended, applied once a month when 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 with the substrate activated by mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

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All xerophytic plants for sale at Desert STORE include:

1.- A layer of aggregate with multiple functions.

• Decorative: improving its final appearance.

• Maintenance, reducing direct water evaporation from the surface of its pot, and the appearance of weeds.

• Preventive, avoiding the development of diseases at the plant's collar.

2.- A supply of Desert CHOICE® Mycorrhizae (beneficial microorganisms) that ensure better establishment, strengthening root development, improving nutrient absorption, and fostering natural defense mechanisms in the plant.

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