Get ready to meet a material showstopper in the cactus world – the one and only Melocactus deinacanthus ! This prickly beauty is about to rock your wind cone off with its eccentric looks and quirky feature . Trust me , you ’ve never see a cactus quite like this before !
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About Melocactus deinacanthus
This beauty is native to Brazil , where it thrives in rocky , harsh regions . At first coup d’oeil , it looks like your medium cask cactus – nothing too out of the average . But wait till you see its softheaded cephalium ( that ’s cactus lingo for the woolly white detonator on top ) !
The cephalium can grow up to 10 inches tall and 3.5 inch all-inclusive . Unlike typical scarlet bristle , this one stay put bright white with just a few cherry - dark-brown sticker poking through the fuzzy fibers . Weird , right ?
The stem is pretty squatty too , reaching around 14 inch marvelous and 10 inches astray when full grown . It ’s rounded or cylinder - shaped with 10 - 12 sharp ribs armed with 4 - 7 cardinal rachis up to 2 inch long and 11 - 14 radiate spines up to 3 inches long . Now that ’s one mean cactus !
But the outlandishness does n’t contain there . Come late summer , stunning pink - Battle of Magenta flowers up to 1 inch foresighted blossom from the cephalium . It ’s a showstopper , I recount ya !
Related Post:35 Types of Melocactus Cacti [ With Pictures ]
How to Care for Melocactus deinacanthus
These prima donna are n’t the easy to please , so newbies beware . But with some superfluous TLC , you may domesticate this raving mad child . Here ’s the 411 :
Light
The Melocactus craves ton of bright , direct sunshine to really thrive . direct to give it at least 6 hour of unobstructed sun rays per twenty-four hours . A sunny S or west facing windowpane is unadulterated for indoor plant . Or you could place it outside during summertime ! If neither pick works , affix with a inviolable grow brightness and keep it just a few inches by for 12 - 14 hours per daylight .
Water
This cactus has a heavy thirstiness than most ! It need more frequent watering , about once every 7 - 10 sidereal day during its growing season from April to October . The key is to let the dirt dry out just a little between watering , but not all . Stick your finger down into the soil and when the top inch or two is just scarce teetotal , it ’s time to thoroughly hook it again . In winter when growth slow , you may cut back to watering once a month .
Soil
A fast - draining cactus / succulent territory mix is an absolute must to preclude rot . Buy a premixed blend or make your own by combine 1 part even potting commixture with 1 part rough-cut grit or perlite . you’re able to even add together in some chicken grit or pebbles for supernumerary drainage . Just head off wet - retaining ingredients .
Fertilizer
To keep this cactus plump and chirpy , feed it a proper cactus fertilizer every 4 - 6 weeks during its growing period . count for a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 or 8 - 8 - 8 fertilizer made for cacti and succulents . Always dilute it to half forte when applying to prevent burning the roots . No need to fertilize in winter when it ’s rest .
Temperature and Humidity
This rut - fuck cactus demands warm and toasty conditions to rightfully wave . It needs reproducible temperatures above 65 ° F at all time , ideally in the 70 during the twenty-four hour period . Any cold potation or temperature below 60 ° degree Fahrenheit can severely damage or even belt down it .
As for humidity , the Melocactus deinacanthus prefers humidness on the high side around 50 - 60 % . While it can digest typical household humidity of 40 % , increased humidness will elevate faster , lush growing . Use a humidness tray or room humidifier if your indoor strain is too dry .
Pests & Problems
Like most cacti , the Melocactus can hang dupe to common critters like mealybug , spider mites , and fungus gnat . The large menace though is root rot from overwatering or poor drain . invalidate wet the cephalium crown too , as it can induce rot . inhuman conscription can also damage this warmth - lover .
Pruning
No indigence to prune back that dotty and woolly cephalium ! The only pruning required is to lop off any dead , damaged or discolored staunch as require using clean shears .
Potting & Repotting
The Melocactus actually favour being underpotted and rootbound to a degree . So do n’t go too big when repotting ! An glassless ceramic pot with drainage holes 1 - 2″ wider than the current pot is ideal . Really tamp down that fresh cactus soil in firmly .
How to Propagate Melocactus deinacanthus
The only way to propagate the unique Melocactus deinacanthus is from seed . It ’s a fun process to taste your deal at ! Here are the steps :
With their alien crest look and stubborn growing nature , Melocactus deinacanthus can be a challenge to spread from ejaculate . But it ’s such a rewarding process to get these quirky cacti yourself !
