Ritterocereus pruinosus 10.5cm

Ritterocereus pruinosus (Otto) Backeb.
Συνώνυμο: Stenocereus pruinosus
Οικογένεια: Cactaceae

Διάμετρος γλάστρας:10.5εκ., Ύψος:15εκ.

English

This cactus has a columnar and little branched habit, which, in nature, reaches considerable dimensions (up to 7 meters in height!).

Its stems are of a green color, covered with a waxy-prune skin layer, that protects them, hence the name of the species.

It consists of ribs, separated by wide intervals and equipped with wavy margins, and rather short and sparse brownish-gray spines. Each areole, present along the undulations of the ribs, has about 3 or 4 short and straight spines.

This cactus has the particularity of letting its pinkish-white funnel-shaped flowers bloom generally both in May and October, a reason that has given it the common names of "pitayo de Mayo" and "pitayo de Octubre".

Care

It likes an exposure to full sun in rather airy locations.
It is preferable to keep it at mild temperatures and never below 12 °C, for this reason it is recommended to place it in sheltered and ventilated places during the winter.
Water moderately in spring and summer but only when the soil is completely dry and suspend watering completely in winter.
A well-draining and mineral-rich substrate is an optimal solution, for example a soil suitable for cacti.
They do not need frequent fertilization, it is sufficient to dilute the fertilizer with watering once a year.