Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum | Indian comb cactus
€7,95
Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm. ex S.Watson) Britton & Rose · Etcho
🌱 Morphology
An arborescent columnar cactus with vigorous growth that can exceed 8 m in the wild and develop a thick trunk with numerous ascending branches. Young stems are deep green, with 10–12 low, rounded ribs. The areoles produce 1–3 grayish central spines, up to 3 cm long, and 8–9 shorter radials. On fertile branches, it develops an apical pseudocephalium covered in reddish-brown wool and long bristles, a characteristic that gives it a very unique appearance.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
A species endemic to Mexico, with a wide distribution from Baja California and Sonora, through Sinaloa, to Oaxaca and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It inhabits areas from near sea level to about 1,000 m in thorn scrub, tropical deciduous forests, hillsides, ravines, and areas of the Sonoran Desert. It belongs to the Cactaceae family.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −4 ºC when dry and with well-acclimated specimens. In cultivation, it is advisable to avoid low temperatures combined with moisture in the substrate, as it comes from warm and subtropical regions.
☀️ Lighting
It requires direct sun and very intense light to develop robust stems and compact spination. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended as a reference. Young specimens should be progressively acclimated to intense sun.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During the cold months, watering is drastically reduced, especially if temperatures are low. In spring and summer, it can receive deep and infrequent waterings, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. It perfectly tolerates prolonged periods of drought and requires excellent drainage.
🌸 Flowering
It takes between 15–20 years to flower. The flowers are large, white, about 7–9 cm long, and appear associated with the pseudocephalium area. They open mainly at night and can remain functional for part of the morning. The ovary and floral tube are covered in brown hairs. The fruits, about 6–7.5 cm in diameter, are densely covered in yellow wool and long bristles; upon ripening, they open to reveal red pulp and black seeds.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low levels of nitrogen is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:
S -> 9cm x 9cm
M-> 14cm x 14 cm
L->16cm x 16 cm
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The plant dimensions are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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