Espostoa lanata | Andean wool cactus
€7,95
Espostoa lanata (Kunth) Britton & Rose
🌱 Morphology
An arboreal, highly variable columnar cactus that can reach 4–7 m in height in the wild. It usually develops a short trunk and branches with age. The stems, about 10–15 cm in diameter, feature 20–30 low ribs and numerous areoles covered in long, silky hairs. The central spines, generally 1–2, can measure 2–5 cm. In adult specimens, a spectacular lateral cephalium appears, which can exceed 1 m in length and is formed by a dense mass of white, cream, or brown wool.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is native to southern Ecuador and northern Peru, where it grows on rocky slopes, dry scrublands, and inter-Andean xeric forests, at an altitude of approximately 350 to 2250 m. It belongs to Cactaceae, Cactoideae. Joël Lodé’s taxonomic treatment is maintained as the reference for Desert CITY nomenclature.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −6 ºC when kept dry and if the specimens are well acclimated. Low temperatures must coincide with a completely dry substrate.
☀️ Lighting
It requires direct sun and very intense light, with an indicative DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ during growth. Solar exposure should be increased gradually.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. In winter, it is kept dry or with minimal watering if temperatures are low. During spring and summer, it should be watered abundantly but infrequently, allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Drainage is essential to avoid root problems.
🌸 Flowering
It flowers upon reaching maturity, around 20 years of age. The flowers appear in summer on the cephalium; they are nocturnal, tubular, or slightly bell-shaped, about 4–8 cm, and range from white to pink. Several flowers may be produced during the season. Pollination can be carried out by bats, bees, and hummingbirds.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low levels of nitrogen, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, is recommended, applied once a month during 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 a substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 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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