Obregonia
Family: Cactaceae
Habitat: North-East Mexico, in a small area near Ciudad Victoria
Cultivation: Obregonia denegrii is not easy to cultivate; the most common risk is that the plant will rot and it is necessary, therefore, to pay attention to the color of the tubercles: if the tips begin to darken, the amount of water should be reduced.
Curiosity: It is a genus made up of only one species, the Obregonia denegrii. It a very rare plant, related to Ariocarpus and Strombocactus, in fact sometimes it is also mentioned with the names of Ariocarpus denegrii or Strombocactus denegrii.
OBREGONIA Key Features
Obregonia are very rare cacti, they spread only in a very small area around Ciudad Victoria, Mexico; they have a small size and grow among rocky interstices in shaded places. The peculiarity that makes it unique and highly sought is given by the particular “artichoke” shape, very decorative: it is the result of a stem with large triangular tubercles, very accentuated and in the shape of a rosette, which remind – precisely – the leaves of the Artichoke (although it is the shape of the stem and not of the leaves, which in the cactaceae are not present). The color is dark green, the thorns grow from small areolas located at the apex of each tubercle; the diameter reaches 15 cm. It has got a large rootstock, so we recommend deep pots. The flowers are usually white or slightly pink, have long, narrow petals and bloom on top of the plant, from an area covered with whitish fluff.
Variety and Types
It is a genus made up of only one species, the Obregonia denegrii. Very rare plant, it is related to Ariocarpus and Strombocactus so sometimes it is also mentioned with the names of Ariocarpus denegrii or Strombocactus denegrii.
Not only that, the presence, inside, of alkaloids similar to those of the Lophophora genus and the light psychotropic effects associated to them, let someone consider Obregonia denegrii a type of peyote.
Tips for growing
The Obregonia denegrii is not easy to cultivate. The most common risk is that the plant rots and it is necessary, therefore, to pay attention to the color of the tubercles: if the tips begin to darken, the amount of water should be reduced.
Here are our other tips for cultivating:
- EXPOSURE: Choose a sheltered and well ventilated place.
- TEMPERATURE: It requires an average warm weather but it resists for short periods even at low temperatures, even a few degrees below zero, as long as the soil is very dry.
- WATERING: Water abundantly in spring and summer but gradually reduce it in autumn and suspend completely with the arrival of winter.
- SOIL: A mix of sand, gravel and peat can be used, or you can permanently choose a cactacea standard soil.
- CONCIMATION: During the vegetative period, fertilize once a month with a specific product for cactacea.
- REPOT: Slow growth and modest size does not require repotting. Take care to choose very deep pots to allow the root to fit and to grow well.
- REPRODUCTION: Obregonia reproduces by the seed.
