Guerreroa crispa (Neoporteria crispa) | Sandillón
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Solitary or sparsely branched cactus with a globose body that can become cylindrical with age and reach up to about 30 cm in height, although some specimens can reach approximately 1 m. It has a pale green to grayish-green epidermis and a densely woolly apex. It develops about 18–26 slightly spiraled ribs with not very pronounced tubercles. The areoles are covered by a fine whitish or light brown felt. The spines are numerous and dense, generally yellowish to grayish; it has about 15–32 acicular radial spines, 1–3 cm long, directed laterally, and between 6–12 central ones, which are longer and awl-shaped. The root system is fasciculated and shallow, but well developed.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species endemic to the north-central coast of Chile, with a very restricted distribution on the coast of the Coquimbo and Valparaíso regions, especially between Los Vilos, Los Molles, and Pichidangui. It grows in rock crevices and coastal cliffs, approximately between 10 and 100 m above sea level, within Mediterranean environments with a marked oceanic influence. Ambient humidity and the relatively moderate conditions of the coast allow its development in an environment where surrounding vegetation can provide some protection. It belongs to the Cactaceae family. Eriosyce chilensis, Pyrrhocactus chilensis, Neochilenia chilensis, and Echinocactus chilensis are names used in different taxonomic treatments.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures close to −4 ºC, provided the specimen is dry, acclimated, and protected from persistent humidity. Cold combined with a moist substrate significantly increases the risk of rot.
☀️ Lighting
Very high lighting is recommended, with a target of 18–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR. Direct sun promotes compact growth, maintains dense spination, and helps preserve the natural tone of the epidermis. In summer, with extremely high temperatures, slight protection during peak radiation hours may be advisable.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Opportunistic. It is a species closely adapted to the coastal Mediterranean climate of Chile, where temperatures are moderate and the oceanic influence plays an important role. In cultivation, it can remain active for a large part of the year when temperatures are favorable. During growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. With low temperatures, it should be kept practically dry, especially during winter.
🌸 Flowering
It produces numerous apical flowers approximately 3.5–5 cm long, with pink, purple-pink, or fuchsia tepals, which are arranged radially and form a characteristic open funnel-shaped corolla. The floral tube has small scales and woolliness with white bristles. The stamens can be light yellow or pink, and the stigma has between 7 and 10 branches that protrude above the stamens. In Spain, it can be expected mainly during spring and summer, although the date may vary depending on cultivation conditions.
🌿 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® Cactáceas, 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 high-tech square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
Plant in a 9x9 cm gourmet black pot
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