Matucana haynei
| Light | Bright light with several hours of direct sun; benefits from strong light to keep dense spination |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season, allowing the mix to dry between waterings; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; will tolerate a cool, dry winter rest |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); occasionally offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Matucana haynei is a globular to short-columnar cactus from the Andes of Peru, celebrated for the dense coat of fine white or grey spines that all but hides its green body. From the woolly crown it produces slender, zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical) crimson flowers on a long tube — a hallmark of the genus Matucana and an adaptation to hummingbird pollination.
Description
Matucana haynei begins life as a solitary green globe and slowly lengthens with age into a short column, though it stays compact and rounded for many years in cultivation. The ribs are numerous and low, carrying closely set areoles that bristle with many fine, hair-like radial spines and a few longer centrals. The overall effect is a soft-looking, silvery or white-frosted plant whose spination density and colour vary considerably from one clone to the next.
The flowers are the great attraction. They emerge from the woolly apex in the warmer months as long-tubed, slightly asymmetrical blooms in vivid crimson to scarlet, occasionally shading toward orange. Their zygomorphic shape and protruding stamens are characteristic of the genus and reflect pollination by hummingbirds in the wild.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Peru, where it grows on rocky Andean slopes at moderate to high elevation. Plants root among rock and gritty mineral soils in open, sunny, well-drained sites, exposed to strong light and to a marked dry season. This high-altitude origin makes the species tolerant of cool nights and bright sun, provided it stays dry when temperatures fall.
Matucana haynei is a variable species across its range, and a number of local forms and once-separate names are now generally treated under it.
Cultivation
Matucana haynei is an accommodating grower for a high-altitude cactus and rewards the same basic regime as most globular species: a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, strong light, and careful watering. Give it as much sun as you can — dense light keeps the white spination tight and prevents the etiolated, stretched growth that comes with shade.
Water thoroughly during the growing season once the mix has dried, then ease off as autumn arrives. A cool, dry winter rest both protects against rot and encourages the following season's flowers. Because the plant's dense spines can trap moisture at the crown, good airflow is helpful. See Repotting for general technique when the plant outgrows its pot.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method, sown on a warm, moist mineral surface in the manner described at Propagation — seed. Established plants may in time produce offsets, which can be removed and rooted as described at Propagation — offsets; allow any cut surface to callus before potting. Seed-raising is preferred where genetic variety is wanted, as the species is naturally diverse.
Common problems
- Rot — the commonest cause of loss, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or moisture sitting in the spiny crown; keep the plant dry through winter.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale, soften and stretch, loosening the dense spination that gives the species its charm.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the spines and at the roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Matucana — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases