Echinofossulocactus albatus
€37,10
🌱 Morphology
Generally solitary, slow-growing cactus with a depressed globose stem that may elongate slightly with age, pale green or glaucous green in color, reaching about 10–12 cm in diameter. It presents around 35 fine ribs, narrow, flattened, and wavy, with small transverse grooves where the areoles are located. The areoles are woolly at the apex. It develops about 10–25 fine, silky, and whitish radial spines, almost translucent in appearance, and generally 4 more robust, yellowish to straw-colored central spines; the upper one can be flattened and reach about 5 cm. The dense, whitish spination gives the whole plant its characteristic light appearance.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is native to Mexico, with records in San Luis Potosí and possibly Hidalgo. It inhabits desert scrublands in arid and semi-arid regions. It belongs to the Cactaceae family. The delimitation of this taxon has been problematic, and there is historical confusion between specimens sold under this name and other related taxa in the group.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 8a–10b
It is a cactus for dry and relatively mild climates, although it can withstand occasional drops in temperature if kept completely dry and well-acclimated. It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −9 ºC on occasion. During winter, it must be kept dry, especially when low temperatures and humidity coincide.
☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires very intense lighting, with an approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR. Direct sun promotes compact growth and allows for the development of the characteristic light and dense spination. Specimens grown under protection must be progressively acclimated to high radiation levels.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During the active period, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, it should be kept dry or practically dry, especially at low temperatures. Excess humidity during dormancy significantly increases the risk of rot.
🌸 Flowering
It produces small, funnel-shaped flowers, approximately 2 cm long, with white to very pale yellow perianth segments. They appear in the apical area and, under cultivation conditions in Madrid, can be expected mainly between April and June.
🌿 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 high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 Gourmet xerophyte in a 16x16 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 plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.
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