Parodia penicillata Fechser & Steeg

🌱 Morphology
Generally solitary cactus, with a globose body when young that becomes progressively cylindrical with age, reaching up to about 30 cm in height. It has numerous well-defined ribs, divided into small tubercles, with woolly areoles. The radial spines are long, thin, and straight, ranging from white to very light brown, while the central ones are more robust and can acquire brownish tones. The whole plant has a light, feathery appearance, which is especially characteristic when the spines are fully developed.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to the province of Salta, Argentina, especially the ravines and rocky slopes around Cafayate, at altitudes between approximately 2,100 and 2,400 m. It lives in arid mountain environments, on stony ground and slopes with xerophytic vegetation. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Cactoideae subfamily, and Notocacteae tribe.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
Tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −4 ºC when dry and well-acclimated. Its high-altitude origin allows it to withstand significant temperature drops, but the substrate must remain completely dry during cold periods.

☀️ Lighting
Requires very intense lighting and several hours of direct sun, with progressive adaptation. As a general guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During spring and summer, it is recommended to water abundantly and allow the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In winter, it should be kept practically dry and with good ventilation.

🌸 Flowering
Produces large, funnel-shaped flowers about 5 cm in diameter, with shades ranging from intense orange to vermilion red. They appear near the apex during the warm season and stand out strongly against the crown of light-colored spines.

🌿 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 during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot, with the substrate activated by 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 may also vary slightly because, after all, it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.