Melocactus Matanzanus

Water:

April-September: 1 x every 2 weeks*

October-March: 1x per month *

*This is only for a sunny location

Light: sunny

Nutrition: 1x per month (May-September)

The Melocactus Matanzanus is a beautiful green ball cactus with large brown spines. When the Melocactus Matanzanus is between 10 and 12 cm in diameter, this cactus forms a cephalium. A cephalium is the part of a Melocactus from which it will flower. This is often colored red to purple, consists mainly of woolly areoles and has small orange to red spines. In summer, a ring of pink-purple flowers appear from the cephalium on top of the Melocactus. The flowers are usually around 2 cm in size and open in the afternoon.

When the Melocactus Matanzanus forms a cephalium, the lower cactus part no longer grows. The cephalium continues to grow. This becomes a bit bigger and wider every year. Because the cephalium of the Melocactus increases, the number of flowers that this cactus produces also increases.

The Melocactus Matanzanus has a number of nice nicknames. The best known is the Turk's Cap cactus. This cactus was given this nickname because the combination of cactus and cephalium resembles a man wearing a round prayer hat on his head. Another nice nickname is Melocactus. The shape and color of this cactus make it resemble a melon.

In nature you will find the Melocactus Matanzanus in subtropical areas on the island of Cuba. This cactus grows there on the northern part of the island. Due to deforestation for agricultural land, it is becoming increasingly difficult to encounter it in nature.