Gymnocalycium ragonesei | Salinas Disk
€10,60
Gymnocalycium ragonesei A.Cast.
🌱 Morphology
One of the smallest and most unique Gymnocalycium species. It grows very slowly and usually remains solitary, with a very flattened, almost discoid body that barely protrudes from the ground. The epidermis can be grayish-green, brownish-gray, dull olive, violet-brown, or even take on reddish tones. It reaches approximately 1.4–2.5 cm in height and up to 5 cm in diameter, exceptionally more. It has 7–10 very flat ribs, separated by shallow transverse furrows. The areoles typically produce 5–6 very short, fine, almost hair-like radial spines, cream to whitish-gray in color, barely 3 mm long, pressed against the body with slightly darker tips.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is a species with an extraordinarily restricted distribution in northern Argentina. Specialized sources place it in the vicinity of Salinas Grandes, in Córdoba, although POWO currently recognizes its native range in Catamarca and Córdoba. It lives semi-buried on the edge of saline grasslands: the salt concentration is high on the surface, while it decreases at depth, where its root system develops.
Family Cactaceae · Subfamily Cactoideae · Tribe Cereeae
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −5 ºC for short periods and with the substrate completely dry. In winter, it should be kept dry, especially if temperatures drop toward 0 ºC.
☀️ Lighting
Bright semi-shade or filtered sunlight is recommended, avoiding intense radiation during the central hours of summer. Sufficient lighting encourages flowering and can intensify the bronze tones of the epidermis, but excessive sun can cause burns and slow growth. PAR radiation greater than 20 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended, with protection during peak intensity hours.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. It is a species that grows mainly in summer. During the active period, it is recommended to water deeply and allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. In autumn, reduce inputs progressively until it is kept dry during winter. Its extremely slow growth makes avoiding excess water especially important.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear near the center of the body, generally 2–3 open simultaneously, funnel-shaped with a narrow floral tube. They are creamy white, with a characteristic dull red throat, and reach about 3–4.5 cm in diameter. Flowering occurs in late spring, and individual flowers can remain open for up to about twelve days.
🌿 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 turgidity, 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 technological square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
* 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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