€10,60

🌱 Morphology
A small fortress spread out over the ground. Its flattened, green, oval-to-circular segments are arranged to form low, spreading mats, typically only 10–25 cm in height. The areoles are equipped with glochids and numerous spines, which can be straight, curved, or flexuous, and range in color from yellowish and brown to grayish. Some reach several centimeters in length and project in different directions, giving the plant an especially armored appearance. The segments remain firmly attached, a characteristic that helps differentiate it from other Opuntia species with easily detached segments.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It belongs to the Cactaceae family and has one of the most northern distribution ranges of any cactus. It extends from Alberta and Saskatchewan, in Canada, through much of the western and central United States down to Texas and New Mexico. It inhabits prairies, steppes, cold deserts, and open pine and juniper forests, on clay, sandy, or stony soils, from about 500 up to approximately 2,800 m in altitude. 

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 3a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −40 ºC in certain populations and when cultivation conditions allow for adequate winter dehydration. It is one of the most cold-hardy Opuntia, capable of surviving extremely harsh winters in the northern reaches of its natural range. Specific hardiness may vary depending on the plant's origin and clone.

☀️ Lighting
It needs full sun to keep the segments compact and promote abundant flowering. During active growth, a target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR is recommended. Insufficient lighting can lead to weaker segments and significantly reduce flowering.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During the winter, the segments may dehydrate, wrinkle, and take on a limp appearance: this is a normal adaptation to low temperatures and winter drought, not a sign of lack of water. With the arrival of spring, they progressively regain their turgor and growth begins. During the active period, abundant watering is recommended, letting the substrate dry out completely before watering again. From autumn onwards, watering should be progressively spaced out, and during the winter it should be kept dry or receive only exceptional watering during prolonged periods of mild temperatures.

🌸 Flowering
Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer, mainly between May and July. The flowers are approximately 2.5–4 cm and can be yellow, magenta, or reddish, with different colors sometimes appearing within the same population. The filaments can also present white, yellow, red, or magenta hues, while the anthers are yellow and the stigma lobes are green. After flowering, it develops dry, cylindrical fruits provided with spiny areoles.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high levels of potassium and bioavailable calcium, 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 cultivated in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

9x9 cm pot

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