Pachycereus pringlei | Mexican giant cardon
€7,95
Pachycereus pringlei (S.Watson) Britton & Rose
🌱 Morphology
Arborescent columnar cactus of extraordinary dimensions, capable of reaching 15–20 m in height and more than 1 m in diameter in exceptional specimens. It develops a very thick trunk and numerous ascending branches, generally starting to branch at a certain height. Young stems have 10–16 obtuse ribs and densely arranged areoles; adult plants considerably reduce their spination and acquire a bluish-green epidermis. Young spines are robust, whitish to grayish, up to about 3 cm.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species endemic to the Sonoran Desert, distributed throughout much of the Baja California peninsula, numerous islands in the Gulf of California, and the coastal strip of Sonora, Mexico. It grows on both alluvial plains and rocky slopes, from areas near sea level to higher altitudes. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, subfamily Cactoideae.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
Tolerates minimum temperatures down to −4 ºC when dry and in well-acclimated specimens. It is a species sensitive to intense frost, especially in young specimens, so cold must always be combined with a completely dry substrate.
☀️ Lighting
It requires direct sun and very intense lighting to develop compact growth and a robust structure. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended as a reference.
💧 Growth cycle and irrigation
Winter dormancy. During the cold months, it remains practically dry. In spring and summer, it can receive deep and spaced waterings, allowing the substrate to dry completely between them. In cultivation, excess persistent humidity should be avoided, especially when temperatures drop.
🌸 Flowering
To observe its first flowering, one must wait at least 20–25 years. The flowers are white to creamy-white, infundibuliform or bell-shaped, up to about 8 cm, and appear mainly during spring and early summer. They open at dusk and remain open during part of the morning, being visited by nectar-feeding bats, as well as birds and insects. The fruits are globose and covered in areoles with yellowish felt; upon ripening, they contain a juicy pulp and numerous large seeds.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas, 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 technical square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 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 measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this can also vary slightly because, it is a living being! Each of the Desert CITY plants has unique characteristics.
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