€15,90

🌱 Morphology
   Cristate form of a small Andean cactus, whose normal growth is transformed into a wavy and sinuous crest, which can branch out to form multiple overlapping fans. The epidermis may show dark green, grayish-green, or purple hues, especially with high light and cool temperatures. Instead of developing a conventional cylindrical stem, the meristem multiplies laterally and produces the characteristic continuous growth line of cristate forms. The areoles are small and close together, with numerous fine, flexible, and densely arranged spines that can form a true mesh over the surface. The root is taproot-like and requires a highly draining substrate.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
The species of origin comes from northwest Argentina, especially Jujuy, in dry mountain environments. Cristate forms are considered growth anomalies selected and maintained in cultivation, so the cristata form does not constitute an independent natural population. It belongs to the family Cactaceae, subfamily Cactoideae, tribe Trichocereeae. The historical name Lobivia haematantha subsp. densispina is related to the complex currently treated differently according to various classifications.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −9 ºC in dry, acclimatized specimens protected from humidity. In a cristate form, it is especially important to avoid the combination of cold and moist substrate.

☀️ Lighting
It needs plenty of light to maintain a compact and well-defined crest. Direct sun also favors the appearance of dark green and reddish tones. As a guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter rest. This is a plant with mainly spring and summer growth. During the active phase, it is recommended to water deeply only when the substrate has dried out completely. In autumn, watering is progressively reduced until it is kept dry during the winter.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers are large in relation to the size of the plant and appear laterally in the upper area of the crest. They can present yellow, orange, red, or intermediate shades, depending on the clone. They reach approximately 8 cm and stand out especially against the densely spiny surface.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Floración.

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

Gourmet 10x10 cm pot

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