FEROCACTUS STAINESII

ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS

It belongs to the Cacteceae family and is known by the common name of “Biznaga de Barril”. This succulent is from Mexico, more specifically from San Luis Potosí.

It has an elongated globular shape, being able to reach 3 meters in height, its ribs are not straight, but rather have an ascending curved pattern, all of them covered with spines of a reddish color, which stand out from the intense green color of the plant. These spines are striated in the shape of a star, they are long and pointed, they can extend up to 4 centimeters.

On the head of the succulent during its flowering, which occurs in summer, some flowers of colors between yellow and red open, which due to the large number of thorns it has, prevents them from opening completely.

DECORATION OF ... EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR?

This wonderful succulent is very decorative, due to the contrast of its colors and its elongated shape. It is perfect to decorate our garden, it is a plant that draws attention on its own.

We can also incorporate them into the home, when they are small, we can put them as decoration on the table or in the window, and when it grows we can incorporate them into our balconies and terraces.

It requires sun and good drainage, so the pot must have openings at the bottom through which the water escapes, and as it does not require much care, it makes it the perfect companion.

CARE FOR CACTUS AND SUCCULENTS

They are showy plants, very pretty and that practically do not need much maintenance.

- They prefer places with direct light or that have good lighting, preferably next to a window, on a balcony, a terrace or in your Garden.

- They can withstand low temperatures, around 5ºC, but be careful that they are not exposed to strong frosts, or get excessively wet as they tend to rot.

- It is essential that they have good drainage, both in the soil and in a pot.

- The ideal substrate for cacti has to be combined with sand and gravel, so that they have good drainage, humidity and excess water are not good.

- Irrigation does not have to be excessive. From spring to autumn, which would be its growth period, water every 15 days, abundant watering and wait for the soil to be very dry again. In winter do not water or give one watering per month.

- Fertilizer. During the growing season (spring - autumn) you can fertilize them with worm humus. Eggshells are a good homemade fertilizer, they contain (Calcium, Iron, Potassium, magnesium and Phosphorus) these nutrients are very important and favor their growth, you must crush and mix them with the substrate, administer them a couple of times a year.

- Treatment against fungi due to excess humidity, disinfect the area with a copper-based fungicide.

- If you want to transplant them from the pot or the ground, the best time would be from spring.

And don't forget that to work with cacti you have to wear good gloves.