€10,60

🌱 Morphology
Solitary cactus with a globose to cylindrical body, generally small in size, which can reach about 15 cm in height and 8–10 cm in diameter. It has a greenish-gray epidermis, which in adult specimens can take on violet, purple, or even blackish tones. It develops 13–15 straight ribs with pronounced, humped tubercles. The areoles are rounded or elongated, separated from each other, and covered in abundant woolliness. The apex is densely woolly and covered by spines. The radial and central spines are difficult to distinguish, numerous, of varying thickness, and generally soft, straight, and directed upwards. The central ones can be longer and darker, while the radial ones are finer and bristly, resembling hairs. Young spines are dark and turn gray or whitish with age.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species endemic to Chile, distributed mainly in the Atacama Region and extending towards the north of the Coquimbo Region. It is found from the vicinity of Carrizal and Huasco towards the south, mainly in coastal sectors and hills of the Coastal Range, from sea level to approximately 800–900 m altitude. It inhabits coastal desert environments subject to the influence of the camanchaca (coastal fog), growing on rocky and well-drained terrain. It belongs to the Cactaceae family. Eriosyce villosa, Neoporteria atrispinosa, and Neoporteria laniceps have been used as alternative names in different taxonomic treatments.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 9b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures close to −4 ºC, provided the specimen is dry, acclimatized, and protected from persistent humidity. Cold accompanied by moist substrate considerably 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 the density of the spination, and helps preserve the grayish tone of the epidermis. In extremely hot summer conditions, it may appreciate slight protection during the hours of maximum radiation.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
It is a species adapted to the coastal desert environments of northern Chile, where atmospheric humidity and the camanchaca have ecological importance. Its activity may be concentrated in periods of moderate temperatures. During growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. With low temperatures, it should be kept practically dry, especially during winter.

🌸 Flowering
It produces abundant flowers, approximately 2 cm in length, pink to pink-purple in color, with lighter or whitish inner tepals. The floral tube and the pericarpel have small areas of woolliness. In its natural range, flowering is concentrated mainly between April and August, coinciding with autumn and the southern winter. In Spain, it can be expected approximately between October and February, although the date may vary depending on temperatures and growing conditions.

🌿 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 high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

9x9 cm gourmet black pot

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