Matucana ritteri Buining 

🌱 Morphology
   Small globose-flattened cactus, generally solitary although it may produce some basal offsets. The body, dark green and shiny, reaches approximately 3–5 cm in height and 5–10 cm in diameter. It has 12–22 low and blunt ribs, clearly divided into tubercles, with small V-shaped grooves around the areoles. The spines are straight to slightly curved, very dark brown to almost black, turning gray with age: generally 1–5 central spines of 2–4 cm and 7–14 radial spines of 1–3 cm. Its low and flattened habit, combined with the large carmine flowers, makes it a particularly attractive Matucana.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Endemic species of Peru, known from the region of Otuzco, La Libertad Department, where it grows in dry mountain environments at approximately 2,500 to 3,600 m above sea level. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, genus Matucana. The epithet ritteri honors the famous German cactus explorer and specialist Friedrich Ritter.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
Tolerates minimum temperatures of up to −4 ºC when dry and with well-acclimatized specimens. Its high-altitude origin allows it to withstand low temperatures, but during dormancy it must be kept completely dry.

☀️ Lighting
Needs very intense light and several hours of direct sun to maintain its compact habit, promote robust spination, and stimulate flowering. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended, with gradual acclimatization to the sun.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During the cold months, it is kept practically dry. In spring, when temperatures begin to rise, deep and infrequent watering is resumed, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings. In autumn, watering is gradually reduced until suspended. Good drainage is essential to prevent root damage during dormancy.

🌸 Flowering
Produces extraordinarily large flowers in relation to the small size of the body, approximately 7–9 cm long and 4.5–5 cm in diameter. They are carmine to scarlet red, narrow-tubed, slightly curved and oblique, and appear near the apex during the growing season. The contrast between the intensely colored flower and the dark green body is one of its most spectacular features.

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

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

📏 The size of our xerophytes from the basic collection is as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The description on the photo specifies the measurements of the plant, but this may also vary slightly, because it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.