Melocactus pachyacanthus
There are huge cacti, which can reach 10 meters in height, such as the Saguaro, there are others that are rather small, such as the Mamillaria, and there are others whose cephalium (structure that contains the flowers) can exceed the height of the plant itself, as is the case with our protagonist.
Your name? melocactus, and these are your cares.
Key features
Melocactus Conoideus
Cacti of the genus Melocactus (worth the redundancy 🙂), are thorny plants native to Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Antilles and Brazil. They are globular in shape, and can measure a maximum of 30cm in diameter. Its growth rate is very slow, and when it reaches mature age, it stops, to produce a crown on its upper part called the cephalium. The cephalium is, as we said at the beginning, a dense woolly structure that contains the flowers, which can grow for years, exceeding the height of the plant itself.
Has a life expectancy of 30 yearsas long as the weather is hot and dry. Let's see how it is cared for.
Care
Melocactus curvispinus
These cactus plants are a bit difficult to maintain. Being native to tropical climates, they do not resist the cold. Bearing this in mind, its cultivation outdoors is only recommended in those areas where the temperature does not drop below 10ºC. If you live in a cool place, you can place it in a room with plenty of natural light.
If we talk about irrigation, it must be occasional. It does not resist excess humidity. Thus, during the hot season it will be watered once every 10 days, and the rest of the year every 15 days. In winter, the waterings will be more spaced: every 20-25 days. You can take the opportunity to fertilize it, once a month from spring to autumn, with a liquid fertilizer for cacti.
Transplant your cactus every two years, moving it to a 3-4cm wider pot during the spring, using a very porous substrate, composed of black peat and perlite in equal parts for example.
Have you ever seen a Melocactus? What do you think?
Good morning again. I have two melocactus on the ground Big and precious. For a few months, the youngest child has had a kind of son on top of him who is getting very big and I would like to know if he is a son. And if so, if I can get it out without hurting them. The biggest one has got two on the side. But they go slower. They have made me flowers sometime. Thanks
Hello Encarna.
Yes, they are probably children, although it is rare that they have. They sure are very well cared for 🙂
You can cut them with a knife previously disinfected with alcohol and then plant it in a pot with black peat mixed with perlite in equal parts, but you should know that it will leave a mark.
A greeting.
Hello, I have some melocactus but its root is as dry as I can do to rescue them?
I have one but it was mistreated with the pot and I take a brown color on the bottom that I do
Hi Davi.
I recommend planting it in coarse sand (like quartz sand or similar), and watering it only once a week or so. If you have a plate underneath, remove it, as permanent contact with stagnant water rots the roots.
Also treat it with an antifungal product (fungicide), just in case.
Regards!