Gymnocalycium gibbosum | Gymnocalycium gibbosum
€21,20
Gymnocalycium gibbosum (Haw.) Pfeiff. ex Mittler
🌱 Morphology
Generally a solitary cactus, with slow to moderate growth, having a depressed-globose body that can elongate significantly with age. The epidermis varies between dark green, bluish-green, olive green, brown, or even grayish. It can reach approximately 10–15 cm in diameter, although some old specimens grow larger. It features 12–19 wide ribs, divided by transverse grooves into angular and very prominent tubercles, which form the characteristic humps (gibbosities) that give the species its name. The areoles are elongated and grayish. It develops 7–10 radial spines, occasionally up to 12, rigid, 1–3.5 cm long, and generally 1–3 central spines, very similar to the radial ones. The coloration can range from dark brown to grayish-white, frequently with a reddish base.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is a species with an extraordinarily wide distribution in Argentina: from San Luis, Mendoza, southern La Pampa, and southern Buenos Aires to Neuquén, Río Negro, and Chubut, from near sea level to about 1000 m. It inhabits steppes, xerophytic scrublands, and sandy or stony terrain, often partially protected by shrubs. The enormous variability of the populations gave rise to numerous specific and varietal names that are currently considered synonyms or forms within the species.
Family Cactaceae · Subfamily Cactoideae · Tribe Cereeae
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −10 ºC for short periods and with the substrate completely dry. Some southern provenances can withstand even lower temperatures, but for cultivation, it is recommended to use −10 ºC as a prudent reference.
☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light. In its habitat, it usually grows partially protected by vegetation, but in cultivation, it accepts direct sun, especially outside the hours of maximum summer radiation. A DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended to maintain compact growth and good spination.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. Growth is mainly concentrated from spring to the end of summer. During active growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and let the substrate dry out completely before the next watering. In autumn, watering is progressively reduced until it is kept completely dry during the winter.
🌸 Flowering
It produces flowers that are large in relation to the body, approximately 6–6.5 cm in diameter, occasionally larger, white to slightly pinkish-white in color, with brownish or reddish central veins and a greenish throat. They are bell-shaped to infundibuliform and appear near the apex. In cultivation, it can begin to flower at approximately 4–5 years old and produce several flushes of blooms during the season, mainly between May and September, although the dates depend on the provenance and growing conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended once a month along with watering. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgor, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
🪴 Pot
9x9 cm gourmet black pot
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen 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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