€15,90

🌱 Morphology
A 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 offsets at a 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. The most distinctive characteristic of 'Morricalli' is its extremely reduced spination: adult stems are usually left practically bare. With intense lighting, the green epidermis can take on 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 brief periods if kept completely dry and properly acclimatized. During winter, it is advisable to keep it cool, dry, and protected from persistent humidity, as the stems are especially sensitive to rot while dormant.

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

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

🌸 Flowering
It produces extraordinarily large flowers in relation to the diameter of the stems, intense and uniform magenta in 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 technological square pot 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 

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent 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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