€7,95

🌱 Morphology
Very cespitose cactus that forms large compact groups, capable of gathering up to 300 stems and reaching about 2 m in diameter. The stems are cylindrical, light to dark green, approximately 5–30 cm long and 3–7 cm in diameter. It features 8–12 sharp, well-defined ribs. The areoles develop a very characteristic spination: 7–10 flattened and angular central spines, approximately 3–6 cm long, initially bright red and turning yellowish or grayish with age, accompanied by 7–10 radial spines of 1.5–2.5 cm.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Endemic to western Baja California, Mexico, including some nearby islands. It is a true coastal species: it grows from practically sea level up to about 50 m in altitude, in coastal desert scrub, dunes, and hills near the ocean, on loamy-sandy or loamy-stony soils with excellent drainage. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −2 ºC, only as a light frost and with the substrate completely dry. It is significantly less cold-hardy than numerous Echinocereus species from continental regions. During winter, it requires relatively mild temperatures and total absence of moisture in the substrate.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires very high lighting, with an approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. In its habitat, it receives intense sunlight, so it tolerates several hours of direct sun. Abundant lighting promotes compact spination and proper flowering.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During winter, it must be kept completely dry and well-ventilated. In spring and summer, during active growth, abundant watering is recommended, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. Although it comes from a coastal environment where there is some atmospheric humidity, the roots are sensitive to excess water in cultivation and require excellent drainage.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear laterally, below the stem apices. They are large and bell-shaped, an intense bright yellow, reaching approximately 6 cm in length and diameter. The fruits are globose, initially green and later red, and remain covered in small spines. 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 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 the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi

📏 Xerophyte in 9 x 9 x 9.5 cm blue pot.

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

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