€10,60

🌱 Morphology
A small, cespitose cactus with a highly branched growth habit, capable of forming dense, flat clusters up to approximately 30 cm in diameter. Stems are globose to elongated, about 1.5–3 cm in diameter, and develop a thick taproot. They feature 9–14 low ribs and relatively spaced areoles. Each areole typically produces 6–8 thin, whitish, curved radial spines measuring about 0.5–1 cm, and may present a central spine, absent in some specimens, up to about 2 cm long.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to northwestern Argentina, mainly in the provinces of Catamarca and northwestern Tucumán. It inhabits areas between approximately 2500 and 3500 m in altitude, in dry scrubland environments and arid mountain zones. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 7b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −14 ºC when kept completely dry and well-acclimated. Its high-altitude origin allows it to withstand low winter temperatures, but prolonged substrate moisture should be avoided during cold spells.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires high light levels, with an approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. It tolerates direct sun after progressive acclimatization. Intense lighting promotes compact growth and good flowering.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. Growth is concentrated primarily during spring and summer. During this period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. Water supply should be progressively reduced during autumn and kept virtually dry throughout winter.

🌸 Flowering
It produces flowers that are relatively large compared to the size of the stems, bell-shaped or infundibuliform and purplish-red in color, generally with a darker throat. They reach approximately 3 cm in length and 3 cm in diameter and appear laterally on the stems. In Madrid, it may bloom mainly between May and July.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high assimilable calcium content 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 technological square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

8x8 cm gourmet pot

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