{"product_id":"melocactus-neryi-cactus-gorro-turco-copia","title":"Melocactus neryi | Turk's cap cactus","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMelocactus neryi K.Schum. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌱 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMorphology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e  Solitary cactus, with a depressed-globose body, dark bluish-green to yellowish-green, about 5.5–18 cm tall and 7–20 cm in diameter. It has 9–15 sharp ribs and sunken areoles in the notches. The spines, initially dark brown to yellowish-brown, acquire reddish tones with age and are partially covered by a whitish-gray layer. It generally develops a single ascending central spine, 1–2.5 cm long, accompanied by 6–10 curved radial spines up to about 2.9 cm long. Upon maturity, it forms a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebroad apical cephalium\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, up to 5 cm high and 4–9 cm in diameter, densely covered with wool and fine \u003cstrong\u003ered\u003c\/strong\u003e to orange-red bristles. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMelocactus guaricensis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eM. schulzianus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e are historical synonyms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌍 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDistribution, habitat, and family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is distributed from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVenezuela and Colombia to northern Brazil and Suriname\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with populations associated with the Llanos and transition zones toward the Amazon. It grows mainly in warm environments, on rocky outcrops and very well-draining substrates, at an altitude of approximately 100 to 500 m. It belongs to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCactaceae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e family, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCactoideae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e subfamily, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCereeae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e tribe.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e❄️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature · USDA Zone 11a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt tolerates minimum temperatures down to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4 ºC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, provided that the substrate remains completely dry. It is a warm-climate species and should be protected especially from low temperatures combined with humidity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e☀️ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLighting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt requires very intense lighting and several hours of direct sun, with progressive acclimatization. High radiation favors compact growth and the formation of a well-developed cephalium. As a general guide during active growth, a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is recommended.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e💧 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowth cycle and watering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinter rest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Although it comes from tropical regions, during the cooler months it is advisable to significantly reduce watering and keep the substrate dry if temperatures drop. During active growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and infrequently, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. Moist cold must be especially avoided, as the roots are very sensitive to it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌸 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlowering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe flowers appear directly on the cephalium and barely protrude from it. They are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epink to purple-pink or carmine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, about 1.8–2.2 cm long and 0.8–1 cm in diameter. The fruits are pink to lilac-pink, 1–2 cm long, and may have a slightly flattened apex.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e🌿 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNutrition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesert CHOICE® Cactaceae\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesert CHOICE® Flowering\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eS -\u0026gt; 9cm x 9cm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM-\u0026gt; 14cm x 14 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eL-\u0026gt;16cm x 16 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen 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 Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4253\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0559\/9818\/5628\/files\/Melocactus-neryi.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1755\" height=\"1304\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DesertSTORE.es","offers":[{"title":"Elite Pot 15x15 cm","offer_id":59392697565519,"sku":"1147","price":47.7,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0559\/9818\/5628\/files\/camera-DA879E5C-7C74-4755-8694-0F7E52EDD0B1.jpg?v=1793798395","url":"https:\/\/desertstore.es\/en\/products\/melocactus-neryi-cactus-gorro-turco-copia","provider":"DesertSTORE.es","version":"1.0","type":"link"}