Neoporteria villosa | Hairy cactus
€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 features a greenish-gray epidermis, which in adult specimens can acquire violet, purple, or even blackish tones. It develops 13–15 straight ribs with pronounced, gibbous tubercles. The areoles are rounded or elongated, separated from each other, and covered in abundant wool. The apex is densely woolly and covered by spines. The radial and central spines are difficult to differentiate; they are numerous, of varying thicknesses, and generally soft, straight, and directed upwards. The central spines can be longer and darker, while the radial ones are finer and bristly, hair-like. Young spines are dark and become 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 southwards, mainly in coastal sectors and hills of the Coastal Range, from sea level up to approximately 800–900 m altitude. It inhabits coastal desert environments subjected 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 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 spine density, and helps preserve the grayish tone of the epidermis. In extremely hot summer conditions, it may appreciate slight protection during peak radiation hours.
💧 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 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 long, of a pink to pinkish-purple color, with the inner tepals lighter or whitish. The floral tube and pericarpel feature small areas of wool. In its natural area, flowering is concentrated mainly between April and August, coinciding with the southern autumn and winter. In Spain, it can be expected approximately between October and February, although the date may vary according to temperatures and cultivation conditions.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high assimilable calcium content and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot, with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
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