Ferocactus histrix | Acitron Barrel Cactus
€7,95
🌵 Morphology:
Solitary cactus with a globose to broadly subovoid stem, with a somewhat flattened apex. It can reach approximately 50 cm in height and diameter, although large specimens can grow up to 1 m tall. It has between 20 and 38 straight, acute, and slightly tuberculate ribs. The areoles, spaced 2 to 3 cm apart, develop 8 or more yellow radial spines, which turn grayish with age, and a much longer central spine, up to about 9 cm, straight or slightly curved. The spines are yellow, often with a reddish base.
🌍 Habitat and geographical distribution:
It is endemic to Mexico and has a relatively wide distribution across the center of the country, including Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas. It lives in arid and semi-arid environments, mainly in xerophilous scrubland, ravines, and stony or volcanic soils with good drainage. It is found approximately between 1,200 and 2,600 m above sea level. It belongs to the family Cactaceae.
❄️ USDA Zone and minimum cultivation temperatures:
It can be placed approximately in USDA 8b–11. It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to -7 °C.
☀️ PAR Illumination:
It needs very high illumination to maintain compact growth, good spination, and promote flowering. An approximate target of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR is recommended during active growth. Once acclimated, it tolerates full sun and needs abundant direct light.
💧 Growth cycle and watering:
It has winter dormancy, while active growth is concentrated mainly from spring to summer. In Madrid, it is advisable to start watering in spring when night temperatures are sufficiently mild, performing abundant watering and allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During spring and summer, this cycle can be maintained as long as the substrate drains quickly. From late summer, water supply should be progressively reduced until suspended in autumn. During winter, it should remain completely dry.
🌸 Flowering:
The flowers are bell-shaped, about 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter and up to approximately 4.5 cm in length. They are yellow, with a characteristic reddish stripe in the middle of the outer tepals. The filaments and style have yellowish tones. In its natural habitat, it flowers during the summer from June to September.
🌿 Nutrition:
During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas is recommended, with NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) formulation, plus micronutrients. The supply of assimilable calcium, equal to nitrogen, favors the maintenance of turgor, while magnesium contributes to good physiological function. It is recommended to apply by watering once a month from April to September, suspending fertilization during winter dormancy.
This is an inimitable xerophyte cultivated 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 specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The photo description specifies the plant's measurements, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each of Desert CITY's plants has unique characteristics.
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