€31,80

🌱 Morphology
  Arborescent Opuntia, highly variable depending on the island and geographical form, which can reach approximately 2.5–5 m in height and develop a thick, woody trunk, with bark that acquires reddish or reddish-brown tones with age. The crown is wide and can be compact or open. The cladodes are large, fleshy, flattened, orbicular, obovate, or oblong, generally 15–38 cm long and 15–27 cm wide, green to yellowish-green. The areoles are large and glochids are scarce or absent. The spination is highly variable: young specimens and certain parts of the trunk may present numerous robust spines, while mature branches may show a much more reduced spination. The spines are generally yellowish and can acquire reddish or brown tones with age.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), where it occupies arid environments and dry scrublands, from areas near sea level to approximately 1,500 m. There are numerous insular forms that were historically described as independent species; they are currently included within O. galapageia. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Opuntioideae subfamily, Opuntieae tribe.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 10a–12b
It is a species from warm tropical and subtropical environments. It should not be considered an Opuntia resistant to intense frost. In cultivation, it is recommended to protect it when temperatures approach 0 ºC, especially if the substrate remains damp.

☀️ Lighting
It needs direct sun and very intense lighting to properly develop its habit, cladodes, and spination. As a guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.

💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter dormancy. Although it comes from a climate without a cold winter comparable to the Mediterranean, when grown in Madrid it is advisable to significantly reduce irrigation during the months of lower temperature and radiation. While temperatures are low, it is recommended to keep the substrate dry. As temperature and lighting increase, irrigation is gradually resumed, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings.

🌸 Flowering
It produces yellow to orange flowers, solitary and diurnal, approximately 4–7.5 cm long and 3.5–6 cm in diameter. After flowering, it develops fleshy fruits, globose to oblong, green or yellowish-green, approximately 2–6 cm long.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium 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 technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

14x14 cm black pot

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