Melocactus levitestatus | Scarlet-cephalium melocactus
€53,00
Melocactus levitestatus Buining & Brederoo
🌱 Morphology
Solitary cactus with a depressed-globose to cylindrical body, grayish-green to dark green, and a relatively smooth surface. It can reach approximately 15–68 cm in height and 14–30 cm in diameter, although there is notable variability between populations. It has 9–15 sharp ribs. The central spines, reddish-brown to grayish in color, measure about 1.7–3.3 cm and can be ascending or slightly recurved; the 7–10 radial spines, up to about 3.3 cm long, are strongly recurved. Upon reaching maturity, it develops a spectacular apical cephalium with bright red bristles, which can reach about 18 cm in height and 7–12 cm in diameter. Melocactus rubrispinus F.Ritter is a historical synonym.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Native to Brazil, with populations in Bahia, Minas Gerais, Goiás, and Tocantins, at approximately 450 to 870 m of altitude. It grows mainly on limestone outcrops and soils derived from the Bambuí formation, in seasonally dry forests and Caatinga environments. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Cactoideae subfamily, Cereeae tribe.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 10a
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −1 ºC under exceptionally dry conditions and for short periods, but for cultivation, it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure below 5 ºC. Cold combined with humidity is especially dangerous.
☀️ Lighting
It requires very intense lighting and several hours of direct sun to maintain compact growth and encourage the formation of a well-developed cephalium. Sun exposure should be increased progressively for specimens grown under protection. 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. It originates from a warm climate with a marked dry season. During autumn, watering is progressively reduced, and during winter, it is kept almost dry, especially at low temperatures. During active growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. The combination of cold and moist substrate should be especially avoided.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers emerge directly from the cephalium and are relatively small, 2–2.7 cm long, red on the outside and deep magenta on the inside. The fruits are club-shaped, white or pale pink, and protrude from the cephalium, forming an attractive contrast with its bright red bristles.
🌿 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.
25 cm bowl
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