€26,50

🌱 Morphology
Highly branched columnar cactus from the base, with stems that are initially erect but may become decumbent or hanging, reaching up to about 2 m in length and 2–5 cm in diameter. It features around 18–22 low, narrow ribs, densely covered by areoles. Numerous fine, whitish to yellowish spines emerge from each, which can reach about 2 cm and completely envelop the stem. In the vulpis-cauda form, the hanging and densely spined stems resemble a fox's tail, the origin of the Latin epithet.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Endemic to Bolivia, mainly in the eastern foothills of the Andes of Chuquisaca and Santa Cruz. It grows on cliffs and rocky slopes, frequently near watercourses, at altitudes of approximately 800 to 1,300 m, in seasonally dry environments. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Cactoideae subfamily, Cereeae tribe. Cleistocactus vulpis-cauda F.Ritter & Cullmann is its basionym.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to approximately −4 ºC in dry, well-acclimatized specimens. Because it originates from warm, seasonally dry environments, it is more sensitive to cold humidity than many columnar cactus species from continental regions.

☀️ Lighting
It requires very intense lighting, preferably with several hours of direct sun. High radiation favors compact growth, spine density, and abundant flowering. As a guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter rest. During the cold period, watering is drastically reduced and the substrate is kept dry. With the increase in spring temperatures and luminosity, water supply is progressively resumed. During active growth, it tolerates abundant watering, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. In hanging specimens, it is especially important to prevent the substrate from remaining wet for prolonged periods.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers are tubular, approximately 6 cm long, and deep red to orange-red in color. They have a very characteristic curvature, close to a right angle, and protrude laterally from the stems. This floral morphology is associated with pollination by birds. After flowering, globose fruits with a violet hue are formed.

🌿 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 high-tech square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

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