€10,60

🌱 Morphology
Small cactus, solitary or growing in clusters that can reach several dozen stems. The body is globose to subglobose, dark green to blackish-green, soft and fleshy, and usually remains partially sunken into the ground. It reaches approximately 3–8 cm in diameter and features 5–7 low, wide ribs. The areoles are small and produce 0 to 4 spines, which can be straight or twisted, pale yellow and very variable in length; in some specimens, they may be virtually absent. This combination of small size, dark body, and reduced spination gives it a very characteristic appearance. It can behave as a geophyte and live buried underground for long periods with a lack of water.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to northeastern Mexico, with known populations in Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí. It grows mainly in open grasslands and transition zones with pine and oak forests, generally on limestone soils, at altitudes that can exceed 2,000 m. Some populations in Nuevo León reach approximately 2,800–3,000 m. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 7b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −12 ºC when completely dry and properly acclimatized. Its origin in the mountainous areas of northeastern Mexico explains its remarkable cold resistance, although during frosts, humidity in the substrate must be completely avoided.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires intense lighting, with an approximate goal of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. It tolerates several hours of direct sun. High lighting helps maintain compact growth and favors the formation of flower buds.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During winter, it should be kept cool, bright, and completely dry. As spring begins, it starts active growth and can be watered abundantly, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. During warm periods, it admits regular watering as long as there is excellent drainage. As it is a soft-bodied and partially buried cactus, persistent humidity during dormancy must be especially avoided.

🌸 Flowering
It produces short funnel-shaped flowers, relatively large compared to its small body, pink, magenta, or purple in color, although white flowers may also appear. They reach approximately 4–6.5 cm in diameter and appear near the apex or laterally. The fruits are globose and purple. In Madrid, flowering can be expected mainly between May and July.

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

📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 9x9 cm pot.

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

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