Cactus Eriosyce Senilis

Today we are going to talk about a rare but very special cactus. It is Eriosyce Senilis, from northern Chile, which we also know by the scientific synonym Neoporteria Senilis.

When young, it is a round sphere that over time becomes cylindrical at a height of eight centimeters. Once it is adult, we can see that across the entire cactus surface there are about eighteen ribs forming a spiral, with their respective tubercles and areoles, from which their spines (about twenty) come out that are quite curious. Although white in color, they are flexible and very tupid spikes that resemble the bristles of a brush. It must be exposed to the direct sun as many hours as possible, but if you have it inside, you have to put it next to a very well-lit window and above all be a well-ventilated place. If you respect these criteria, you can enjoy relatively large flowers with respect to the size of the cactus. They are usually intense pink and can be up to five centimeters in diameter.

It can withstand fairly low temperatures, resisting up to four degrees negative on condition that it has a fully dry substrate and is not very frequent. If you don’t want to expose it to possible problems, it better exceeds four positive degrees. It is very sensitive to over-registering and very high ambient humidity.

Finally, the irrigation must be moderate, once every fortnight in the spring, once a week in the summer, and if you are in a place where autumn is not very cold, you can afford to water it once a month. In winter, stop providing water completely until temperatures are stable again, that is, exceed six positive degrees. Before irrigation, you must ensure that the substrate is dry.