€26,50

🌱 Morphology
   Geophytic opuntioid cactus, small-sized with a very distinctive growth habit. It forms small clusters of globose, ovoid to slightly flattened segments, about 3–5 cm in diameter, with pentagonal or hexagonal tubercles that give it its geometric appearance. The epidermis can vary from bluish-green to olive green and may acquire purplish or reddish tones under intense lighting. The lower areoles have glochids but usually lack spines; the upper ones can develop 3–7 appressed spines, whose length and color show notable variability, ranging from whitish or brown to black.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to the Catamarca province, Argentina, where it grows in extremely arid Monte and Prepuna environments, in highly draining gravel and sandy soils, generally between approximately 1,300 and 2,900 m in altitude. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Opuntioideae subfamily.

❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 8b–11b
Tolerates minimum temperatures down to −10 ºC when kept completely dry and properly acclimatized. During winter, it requires a cold and dry rest period.

☀️ Lighting
During active growth, it requires very intense lighting and several hours of direct sun. An approximate target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR promotes compact growth and the expression of purplish tones and dark spines.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. Growth occurs mainly during spring and summer. With high temperatures, it can receive abundant watering, allowing the substrate to dry completely before watering again. In winter, it enters dormancy and should be kept practically dry. Its tuberous root and geophytic condition make a highly draining substrate especially important.

🌸 Flowering
It produces relatively large flowers for the size of the plant, generally white or pinkish-white, with a more intense tone on the central vein. In Madrid, it may bloom mainly between May and June.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low levels of nitrogen, 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 with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

📏 Gourmet xerophyte in different sizes.

* 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 it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.

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