€15,90

🌱 Morphology
Cactus with a short cylindrical body, bluish-green to grayish-green, which can reach about 18 cm in height and 8 cm in diameter. Although some specimens remain solitary, with age it tends to produce numerous offsets and can form large, compact colonies of 30–90 cm, which acquire a characteristic white appearance due to the density of their spines. The tubercles are rounded and contain latex; their axils are covered with white wool and may present numerous bristles. It develops 16–20 white radial spines, intertwined, about 5–7 mm long, and generally 2–6 central spines that are much longer, straight or slightly curved, white or white with a dark tip, which can reach 4 cm. The combination of the two prominent central spines explains the epithet geminispina, “twin spines.”

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Native to central-northeastern Mexico, especially Hidalgo, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, with records also in Guanajuato and towards Veracruz. It grows at an altitude of approximately 1,000 to 1,850 m, in xerophytic scrub on rocky slopes and calcareous soils, where it can form numerous colonies.
Family Cactaceae · Subfamily Cactoideae · Tribe Cacteae

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −4 ºC for short periods and with the substrate completely dry. Adult specimens can withstand occasional drops close to this temperature, although cold combined with humidity should be avoided.

☀️ Lighting
It appreciates full sun, with good ventilation. Intense lighting is essential to maintain its dense, compact white spines. A reference of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR is recommended, performing a progressive acclimation to direct sun.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During winter, it should be kept practically dry. In spring and summer, it is recommended to water deeply and let the substrate dry completely before the next watering. From late summer, watering is progressively reduced until it is suspended during dormancy.

🌸 Flowering
It can begin to flower at approximately 7–8 years from seed. It produces bell-shaped flowers up to 2 cm in length and diameter, ranging in color from intense pink to carmine red, with darker central veins. They generally appear forming a crown around the top of the previous year's growth, although they are occasionally distributed more irregularly over the body. Flowering can occur from spring to summer, depending on cultivation 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 turgidity, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

🪴 Pot
9x9 cm pot

This is an inimitable xerophytic plant grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

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 measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.

• Hassle-free returns

• Free Shipping on orders over €79.99

• Secure and protected payment guaranteed.