Consulta Plantas

Care of the cactus Matucana madisoniorum or Borzicactus madisoniorum

The genus Matucana, family Cactaceae, comprises 20 species of cactus native to Peru. Some species are: Matucana madisoniorum, Matucana intertexta, Matucana haynei, Matucana weberbaueri, Matucana polzii, Matucana krahnii, Matucana auriantica.

Scientific synonyms: Submatucana madisoniorum, Loxanthocereus madisoniorum, Borzicactus madisoniorum. This species is native to the Amazonas region, Peru.

They are small cacti with a globular body and a greyish green color that lengthen until they reach 15 cm (5.9") in height. They have 7-12 flat and wide ribs with tubercles on the areolas. The spines are dark, flexible and curved and can have up to 5 per areola; sometimes they are absent or lonely. The showy tubular flowers appear on the top of the cactus and can be red, white, or orange in color. They bloom in spring or summer.

Due to their small size, they are used in pots as indoor, greenhouse, balcony or terrace plants and in rockery (in subtropical climates).

The Matucana madisoniorum prefers a semi-shade or full sun exposure (if the summer is not very hot). In winter the temperature should not be less than 12 ºC (53.6 ºF).

The soil can be a commercial substrate for cacti. The transplant is done during the spring.

Water regularly in spring and summer, always waiting for the substrate to dry. In mid-autumn stop watering; water again in spring.

Fertilize in spring once with mineral fertilizer.

Pruning is not necessary.

The main enemy of these cacti is excess humidity.

They propagate from seeds sown in spring in a slightly humid sandy substrate.

Images of the cactus Matucana madisoniorum or Borzicactus madisoniorum