€7,95

🌵 Morphology

A generally solitary cactus, with a globose body in the early stages that becomes progressively cylindrical with age. It can reach approximately 1.5 m in height and 30 cm in diameter. It has numerous ribs, on which areoles are arranged, provided with whitish radial spines and several much more robust central spines. The latter are intense red in color, often with yellowish, flattened, and slightly curved tips. The four main ones can be arranged in a cross shape and reach about 7 cm. It is one of the most recognizable Ferocactus species due to the contrast between its green stem and red spines.

🌍 Habitat and geographic distribution:

It is endemic to the state of Baja California, Mexico, where it is distributed from the southern end of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir southward, approximately to Punta Prieta. It lives from near sea level to about 300 m in altitude, on rocky slopes, alluvial fans, gravel plains, and silty terrain. It is part of communities typical of the Baja California desert, along with other cacti and xerophytic plants. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ USDA Zone and minimum cultivation temperatures: It can be placed approximately in USDA 9b–11. Cultivation references indicate an approximate resistance down to −6 °C, provided the plant is completely dry, although this figure should not be interpreted as a safe minimum temperature for every specimen and condition. 

☀️ PAR Lighting:

It requires very high lighting to maintain compact growth and, above all, to properly develop the intense red coloration of the spines. An approximate target of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR during active growth is advised.  Once acclimated, it tolerates and appreciates full sun.

💧 5. Growth cycle and watering: It has a winter dormancy, while active growth is concentrated mainly from spring to summer. In Madrid, it is advisable to start watering when nighttime temperatures are sufficiently mild, providing abundant watering and allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During spring and summer, this cycle can be maintained provided the substrate has rapid drainage. From late summer, water supply should be progressively reduced until it is suspended in autumn. During winter, it must remain completely dry.

🌸 Flowering: It produces bell-shaped or infundibuliform flowers, about 4 cm long and approximately 3–4 cm in diameter. They present a very characteristic coloration, with purple-red or magenta tones in the central area and yellow, whitish, or reddish margins depending on the specimen and population. Flowering occurs mainly from late spring to early summer, although in some populations it may extend towards the end of the summer. In Madrid, it can be expected mainly between May and July, depending on spring temperatures.

🌿 Nutrition: During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas is recommended, with an NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) formulation in addition to micronutrients. The supply of assimilable calcium, equal to the nitrogen, favors the maintenance of turgidity, while magnesium contributes to proper physiological function. It is recommended to apply via watering once a month from April to September, suspending fertilization during winter dormancy.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the specific Desert SOIL substrate.

📏 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 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 Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.

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