Lophocereus schottii | Senita cactus
€37,10
Lophocereus schottii (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
🌱 Morphology
Columnar cactus, highly branched from the base, capable of forming large clusters of numerous erect stems 1–7 m tall. The stems are yellowish-green, about 5–10 cm in diameter, with 4–13 ribs. The lower areoles have few short spines, while those in the fertile zones develop a spectacular terminal pseudocephalium consisting of abundant flexible, gray, bristly hairs that can exceed 1 m in length. This transformation of the fertile areoles is one of its most distinctive features.
🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
It is distributed from southern Arizona to northwestern Mexico, including Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa. It grows from practically sea level up to about 800 m, on dunes, alluvial plains, stony slopes, and xerophytic scrublands of the Sonoran Desert. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, subfamily Cactoideae, and tribe Pachycereeae.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −6 ºC in dry conditions and with well-acclimated specimens. It is advisable to protect it from prolonged frosts accompanied by humidity.
☀️ Lighting
It needs direct sun and very intense radiation. High light intensity favors compact growth and the development of the characteristic pseudocephalium. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During winter, it should be kept practically dry. In spring and summer, it tolerates deep, infrequent watering, allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Fast drainage is essential.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers emerge laterally from the areoles of the pseudocephalium. They are funnel-shaped and nocturnal, about 3–4 cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter, with colors ranging from white and pinkish-white to deep pink tones. The floral tube features scales and hairs. The fruits are globose, red and fleshy, 1–3 cm, with red pulp and few or no spines.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
14x14 cm pot
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