€21,20

🌱 Morphology
Solitary cactus, green-bodied, globose to elongated, approximately 4–6 cm in diameter, which can reach up to 30 cm in length with age. It presents up to 13 ribs, which are relatively narrow and slightly spiraled. Its most distinctive characteristic is the areoles covered in long, abundant white wool, which can completely hide the apex and extend over part of the body. The spines are blackish, needle-like, with up to 3 central ones about 10–25 mm long, initially black and later gray or reddish upon maturing. The taproot is poorly developed.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is endemic to northern Chile, in the Antofagasta Region. Its distribution is extremely restricted and is located in very few coastal valleys north of Paposo, with populations especially associated with the Blanco Encalada area. It grows on rocky slopes in a hyper-arid environment, at approximately 200–600 m altitude. Survival depends to a large extent on the moisture provided by the camanchaca (coastal fog), although the plants can be found below the usual fog level and endure periods of extreme drought. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.

According to the classification by Joël Lodé, the correct name is Guerreroa paucicostata subsp. floccosa (F.Ritter) Lodé, a combination and new rank published in 2024. Its basionym is Pyrrhocactus floccosus F.Ritter. It has also previously been treated as Eriosyce paucicostata subsp. floccosa, Eriosyce taltalensis var. floccosa, Neochilenia floccosa, and Neoporteria paucicostata var. floccosa.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9a–11b
It can be cultivated with cool, dry winters. Once well-acclimated, it can withstand minimums close to −4 °C during dormancy, provided the substrate is completely dry. Cold accompanied by humidity should be avoided, especially due to the scarcity of water available in its natural habitat and its adaptation to extremely arid soils.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it needs very high lighting, approximately 18–25 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR, with several hours of direct sun. High radiation promotes compact growth and good spine formation. In summer, when temperatures are extreme, it can benefit from light protection during the central hours, while always maintaining excellent ventilation.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
It is a xerophyte specialized in surviving in one of the most arid environments in Chile. Water availability is highly conditioned by the camanchaca and by occasional rainfall episodes. During active growth, abundant watering is recommended, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. During winter dormancy, it should be kept practically dry, especially at low temperatures. The wool covering the apex and areoles constitutes a characteristic adaptation to intense radiation and water scarcity.

🌸 Flowering
It produces one or several apical flowers, funnel-shaped, with the pericarpel covered in areoles provided with white wool. The tepals are narrow and do not overlap: the internal ones are pinkish-white, while the external ones present a characteristic fuchsia-colored stripe. The fruit is elongated, pink, fleshy, and also features woolly areoles. In cultivation in Spain, flowering is mainly expected during the spring.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with 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 high-tech square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

9x9cm gourmet black pot

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