Happy Urban Dirt

The world of succulents is very wide and diverse. These types of plants have become very popular because they are so handsome and incredibly uncomplicated to care for. For this reason, it is not surprising that more and more people decide to grow these valuable vegetables to beautify their home. However, since there are so many different species, it does not hurt to get to know them in advance to know what specific care is. Today we will introduce you to a very popular cactus called Common pangolin.

If you want to learn more about this vegetable, I recommend reading further. In this article, we will explain what is he Common pangolinwhat it looks like and what care it requires. I hope you found this information engaging! And who knows, you might even want to buy one to decorate your home. It would be a great choice, no doubt.

What is Common pangolin?

When we talk about Common pangolin, we refer to a species of cactus that belongs to the family Cactaceae. It is a plant endemic to Brazil, but today we can find it all over the world. It was first described in 1979 by Friedrich Ritter, a German geologist and botanist, who published it in his book «Cacti in South America» (German title meaning «Cactus in South America»).

Its general name Pilofascial musclecomes from the Greek term “capillary“, which basically means “hairy”, when combined with the word “Cereus«, which is a genus belonging to cacti. Therefore, it can be said that it is Cereus furry. The second word that makes up the name of this cactus, pachycladuscomes from Latin and means “with chunky branches”. As you can see, the name of this plant describes its appearance quite well: Cereus hairy with chunky branches.

As we mentioned above, This cactus comes from Brazil, where we can find it naturally, especially in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Minas Gerais, Piauí and Bahia. It usually grows at altitudes between 50 and 1550 meters. We can find this species of succulent in quartzite outcrops that are located in the center and south of the caatinga. It is also often found in the thickets of rock fields, on rocky debris and on rocky and sandy substrates. If you have the opportunity to visit these regions and want to learn about the flora, it is highly recommended to go through protected areas such as Morro de Chapéu State Park or Chapada Diamantina National Park, where there are many specimens Common pangolin.

Description

Although its name already explains quite well what this cactus looks like physically, we will discuss in more detail what it looks like. In the wild, It usually grows in the form of a tree, reaching a height of two to ten meters. stems Common pangolin they grow vertically and are glossy, of a gray or blue color, but always with a greenish tinge. They usually have a diameter of five to eleven centimeters. It should be noted that this cactus usually has from five to nineteen transversely grooved ribs, near the ends, where the shoots are located.

When it comes to thorns, the most characteristic feature of cacti, Initially they are yellow, but over time they become crystal clear and grey. Generally, Common pangolin It has one to twelve ascending central spines, which are usually one to thirty millimeters long. As for the radial spines, they are usually eight to eighteen and five to fifteen millimeters long.

Near the top there is an inflorescence of shoots, which is very uncomplicated to distinguish and contains different ribs. The flowers of this cactus can be very variable. Its length usually ranges from four to seven centimeters, while its diameter ranges from two to four and a half centimeters. It also has some very engaging fruits. They are usually spherical and torn on the side. Inside is a magenta-colored pulp.

care of Common pangolin

Now that we know more about Common pangolinLet’s see what care is required. You will find that this is a very uncomplicated plant to maintain, making it an ideal species for those with little time and those who are just starting out in gardening.

• Irrigation: Since it is a cactus, you can expect it to tolerate drought very well. You need to water it a little when the soil is completely dehydrated. During the growth period (spring, summer and autumn) it is best to water it once or twice a week. In winter we simply have to not let the soil dehydrated out completely.
• Lithe: As a good succulent, it loves the sun. For its proper development and growth, it is crucial that it receives a lot of direct sunlight. However, it is advisable to protect it a little from the sun for a longer period in mid-summer to avoid damaging the plant.
• Temperature: Since it is a vegetable that grows in semi-arid, tropical and subtropical regions, it is not surprising that it requires quite high temperatures, preferably in the range of 20 to 35 degrees Celsius. When the temperature exceeds 35 degrees or drops below 10 degrees, growth Common pangolin It slows down and even starts a latency period.
• Floor: As for the soil, it is best if it is fertile, with good drainage and prosperous in gravel. The pH should be between six and seven.
• Fertilizer: During the growth period, it is recommended to fertilize once a month. During planting, it is best to operate nitrogen, while before and after flowering, the best solution is a fertilizer prosperous in potassium and phosphates.
• Pruning: There is generally no need to prune this plant unless you want to control its size. It is significant to remove dead branches and flowers so that it does not waste nutrients and grows optimally.

I hope that all this information about Common pangolin we encourage you to grow this spectacular cactus. It looks very nice at home and, as you can see, does not require special care.