Thelocactus hexaedrophorus | Hexagon cactus
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Small cactus, usually solitary, slow-growing. The body is globose and depressed, with a flattened or slightly convex top, grayish-green, bluish-green, or olive-colored. It typically reaches about 3–8 cm in height and 8–15 cm in diameter.
The ribs are practically transformed into large polygonal tubercles, hexagonal in appearance, arranged in a very characteristic geometric structure. It can have between 8 and 13 series of tubercles, approximately 8–26 mm. The areoles are located in the grooves between the tubercles.
The spination is relatively short and variable. It has approximately 4–8 radial spines, white, ocher, reddish, or brown, and generally a more robust, erect central spine, up to about 3 cm.
🌍 Habitat and geographical distribution
Species native to Mexico, mainly the northeast and north-central parts of the country. It is found in Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, within the arid and semi-arid regions related to the Chihuahuan Desert.
It grows on stony ground, often of calcareous nature, where water quickly disappears after rains. It belongs to the family Cactaceae.
❄️ USDA Zone and minimum cultivation temperatures
Due to its distribution and origin from continental areas of northern Mexico, it can be approximately located in USDA 8b–11. In cultivation, references of resistance close to −7 °C in dry conditions have been recorded, although this figure should be interpreted as a punctual tolerance and not as a safe minimum temperature under all conditions.
☀️ Lighting
It needs full sun or very intense lighting. The RHS recommends full sun exposure and points out that high lighting is important for its cultivation. High radiation helps maintain a compact body and properly develop tubercles and spination.
For practical purposes during active growth, approximately 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ of DLI PAR is recommended.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During winter, it must be kept completely dry. In summer, abundant watering is recommended, thoroughly wetting the substrate and allowing it to dry completely before watering again. In late summer and during autumn, watering should be progressively spaced out until returning to dry dormancy.
🌸 Flowering
It produces large flowers in relation to the small size of the body, approximately 5–10 cm in diameter. They are bell-shaped flowers, from white to pale pink, usually with a characteristic more intense pink stripe on each perianth segment.
In Madrid, the most likely flowering of T. hexaedrophorus occurs between April and June, especially when the plant has experienced a dry and bright winter.
🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactáceas NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgor, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis.
This is an inimitable xerophytic plant grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
📏 Gourmet xerophytic plant in a 9x9 cm pot.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The plant's measurements are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living being! Each of Desert CITY's plants has unique characteristics.
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