€7,95

🔍Morphology:

Initially a globular cactus that develops a cylindrical habit with age, reaching about 2 m in height and 50 cm in diameter. It forms clusters through basal offsets. It has between 13 and 20 prominent ribs, initially angular and later more rounded, with very closely spaced areoles. The central spines, usually 6–12, are strong, straight or slightly curved, red, yellow, or reddish, and can reach about 5 cm. Around these, numerous fine, whitish radial spines appear, giving the plant its characteristic woolly appearance.

🌍 Habitat and geographical distribution:

It is endemic to Mexico, mainly in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. It grows in semi-arid areas of the Mexican Altiplano and the Chihuahuan desert, especially on rocky and calcareous slopes, among scrubland and xerophytic vegetation. Kew currently accepts Ferocactus pilosus as a species. It belongs to the family Cactaceae.

❄️ USDA Zone and minimum cultivation temperatures: It can be approximately located in USDA 9a–11. When cultivated in Madrid, it has shown extraordinary frost resistance: specimens grown in the Desert CITY Botanical Garden withstood temperatures of up to −13 °C for three consecutive days during the Filomena storm, without these conditions causing the loss of the plants. This experience allows Ferocactus pilosus to be considered a species suitable for tolerating intense frosts in Madrid, provided it is kept completely dry, with a very well-draining substrate and no accumulated water in the root zone during the cold spell.

☀️ PAR Illumination:

It needs very high illumination during active growth to maintain a compact habit and develop intense spination. An approximate target of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR is recommended, achieved progressively to avoid burns on specimens that have grown protected. It tolerates and appreciates full sun once acclimatized. In cultivation, this means direct sun exposure.

💧 Growth cycle and watering: It presents winter dormancy. Growth is mainly concentrated from spring to summer. In Madrid, it is advisable to start watering when night temperatures are sufficiently mild, usually from March-April, watering thoroughly and allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. During the warm period, this watering cycle can be maintained as long as the substrate drains quickly. By the end of summer, water intake should be gradually spaced out and Desert CHOICE Rest should start to be applied in the last waterings of the season until it is completely suspended in autumn. During winter, it must remain dry and cool.

🌸 Flowering: Flowers appear forming a crown around the apex. They are relatively small for the size of the plant, up to about 2.5 cm in diameter, with short, erect petals. Intense orange-yellow tones predominate, although yellow flowers or combinations of orange and yellow may appear. In Spain, under suitable growing conditions, flowering usually occurs mainly between April and June, although it is a re-blooming species and can have its last seasonal bloom by the end of September. Plants need to reach a certain maturity to flower.

🌿 Nutrition: During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Cacti is recommended, with NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) formulation, in addition to micronutrients. The calcium concentration equal to nitrogen promotes turgor and the high magnesium content contributes to maintaining a good physiological state. It is recommended to apply by watering once a month from April to August, suspending fertilization during winter dormancy.

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

📏 The size 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 these may also vary slightly, as it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.

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