€37,10

🌵 Morphology:

A highly branched cactus that forms large clumps or compact clusters, which in mature specimens can reach several meters in diameter. Each stem is globose or slightly cylindrical, about 8–16 cm in diameter, with 8–9 prominent and clearly tuberculate ribs. The areoles are quite far apart. It has between 4 and 6 robust central spines, brown, reddish, or horn-colored, and about 10–14 thinner, grayish radial spines. The lower spine can reach about 6 cm in length. Its ability to produce numerous basal stems is one of its most striking features.

🌍 Habitat and geographic distribution:

It is endemic to Mexico, with a distribution known mainly in Puebla and Oaxaca, within the semi-arid region of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán valley. It grows in dry scrubland on stony and calcareous soils, with good drainage and relatively low rainfall. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

❄️ USDA Zone and minimum cultivation temperatures:

It can be placed approximately in USDA 9b–11. Cultivation references indicate that it can withstand drops near −4 °C if kept completely dry, although it is not considered an especially resistant species to prolonged frosts.

☀️ PAR lighting:

It needs very high lighting to maintain compact growth and promote good spination. An approximate target of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR is recommended during the active period. This interval is a horticultural estimate, as there is no specific DLI value published for the species. It tolerates full sun once acclimated, although it does not necessarily need direct sun throughout the day.

💧 5. Growth cycle and watering: It presents a winter dormancy period, although its behavior in habitat can be more flexible and flowering may extend over different times of the year. In Madrid, it is advisable to start watering in spring, when temperatures are sufficiently mild, providing an abundant watering and allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During the summer, this cycle can be maintained provided the substrate dries quickly. Starting in autumn, water supply should be progressively reduced until it is kept completely dry during winter. Rapid drainage is especially important for this species.

🌸 Flowering:

The flowers are funnel-shaped, approximately 3–4 cm in diameter, yellow, with a characteristic reddish hue on the outer area of some perianth segments. The stigma has reddish lobes. In cultivation in Spain, especially in Madrid, it can be expected mainly from late spring to summer, depending on the temperature and the plant's maturity.

🌿 Nutrition:

During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas is recommended, with an NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) formulation plus micronutrients. The supply of assimilable calcium, balanced with nitrogen, helps maintain turgidity, while magnesium contributes to the plant's proper physiological functioning. It is recommended to apply via irrigation 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.

14x14 cm pots

16x16 cm pots

Xerophyte in pot.

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The plant's measurements 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.

📏 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 plant's measurements 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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