We thank Elvia Speranza for the supervision of the information who, with her husband Moreno, takes care of the Cactus House with great love and expertise for cacti and succulents.

IDENTIFICATION

Scientific name:

Thelocactus bicolor

Subgenres:

Thelocactus bicolor v. bicolor,Thelocactus bicolor v. bolaensis,Thelocactus bicolor v.commodus,Thelocactus bicolor v.schwarzii,Thelocactus bicolor v. schottii

Family:

Cactaceae

Origin:

the species is native to central-northern Mexico (states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas and Zacateca) and from the USA. (Texas)

Enviorment:

in nature it grows in semi-arid areas, in association with thorny shrubs, between 300 and 1800 m. of altitude, for this reason it tolerates temperatures below zero.

Evergreen or deciduous:

evergreen

VEGETABLE RECOGNITION

Height:

10 – 15 cm (in nature 26 – 28 cm)

Width (extension):

10 – 15 cm (in nature 16 cm)

Habit:

ovate/cylindrical shape, columnar with age

Color:

green to gray-green or yellowish-green.

Flower:

Scenographic as per genus, up to 10 cm wide, bell-shaped, magenta (or pink or red) and arise from the most recent areoles.

Flowering:

from spring to summer. The flowers only open in bright sunshine and when temperatures are high. Towards evening the flower closes but can also last from 3 to 5 days

Fruit:

10-20 mm long, green to red-brown in color and covered with scales.

Stem:

it is formed by 8-12 ribs, wide and slightly tuberculate, arranged in a spiral in the older specimens, with woolly circular areoles spaced up to 2 cm apart. The areoles are equipped with 9-18 radial spines of red colour, in various gradations and yellowish apex (hence the name bicolor) up to 3 cm long. It has 1 to 4 red central spines, straight and 3-6 cm long. Rarely branches at the base.

Toxicity:

not known

NEEDS

Cultivation:

simple

Light Exposure:

full sun

Soil type:

generally stony limestone

Soil acidity:

pH between 7,5 and 8,5

Italian climatic area:

it can be grown outdoors only in non-humid areas (all of central and southern Italy) in the north it must be protected from winter rain and prolonged intense cold

Need for water:

regular: in spring (10 days) in summer (also every week). In autumn (20-25 days) and in winter it stops. Important is the substrate that must not retain moisture

Diseases:

It can be affected by the usual succulent insects (cochineal and red spider mite). In the presence of high environmental humidity it can be affected by fungi (fusarium)

Propagation:

it reproduces by seed.

PARTICULARITY

The name derives from the combination of the Greek term “thelé” which means “nipple” and cactus with reference to the tubercles on the ribs. Bicolor, as mentioned above is for plugs of two colors.

Annotations

Plant that starts flowering from seed between 3 and 4 years, with even 2-4 flowers at the same time.

Also beautiful to see due to the colored spines

In the kitchen:

it is not used.