€7,95

🌱 Morphology
Cespitose growing cactus, with cylindrical, soft, and erect or somewhat prostrate stems that can reach about 35–50 cm in length and up to 4 cm in diameter. It forms open clusters through basal branching and can also produce offshoots at some distance from the main stem. It generally has 6–7 low ribs that narrow towards the apex and are slightly divided by transverse grooves. The areoles are small. Its yellow spines include 0–1 rudimentary central spine and 3–5 radial spines of barely 1–3 mm. With intense lighting, the green epidermis can acquire purple tones.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is native to the Mexican state of Nuevo León, south of Monterrey, where it was located in the Barranca de las Garrapatas, near the La Boca dam. It grows in dry scrubland environments and rocky areas. The epithet morricalii honors D. B. Morrical, discoverer of the plants that gave rise to the taxon. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −7 ºC for short periods if it remains completely dry and is correctly acclimated. During winter, it should be kept cool, dry, and protected from persistent humidity, as the stems are especially sensitive to rot while dormant.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires high lighting, with an approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day DLI PAR. Good lighting promotes compact growth and intense coloration of the epidermis. However, practically spineless forms, such as 'Morricalli', may need some protection from the most intense summer sun to avoid damage from excess radiation.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During the winter, it must be kept cool and completely dry. In spring and summer, it enters active growth and can be watered abundantly, allowing the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. With high temperatures, it can be maintained with regular watering provided there is excellent drainage. During winter dormancy, the stems may wrinkle, soften, and noticeably reduce in volume as they consume stored water; they regain their turgor when growth restarts in spring.

🌸 Flowering
It produces extraordinarily large flowers in relation to the stem diameter, of an intense and uniform magenta color, with a silky appearance, which can reach approximately 8–10 cm in diameter. They appear laterally on the stems and constitute one of the main attractions of this taxon. In Madrid, flowering can be expected mainly between May and July.

🌿 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 technical square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm 

* Since 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, after all, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* Since 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, after all, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

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