Melocactus matanzanus (Turk’s Cap Cactus) is a small, perennial, ball shaped cactus that is native to tropical Cuba. It gets it common name because of the cap (cephalium) that forms on the top. The cephalium is where it flowers and then fruits; small bright pink flowers form on top of the cap and then its subsequent fruit from a ring around the top of the cap. This species is a collectors delight in the cacti world, that sadly is endangered in its native range.
This unusual species is suitable as an indoor or potted plant.
Growth
Melocactus matanzanus is a tropical cactus, so copes well with moisture and humidity in the air. It can be grown in temperate climates, but it is best to keep them in pots and brought inside once temperatures fall below 12°C / 54°F because they are not frost tolerant and will suffer quickly in cold temperatures. A sunny windowsill is an ideal spot, this species is sensitive to transplanting.
The circular green body of the Turk’s Cap Cactus grows to 7-9 cm’s in diameter with 8-10 ribs. The ribs have white-grey spines along them, in clusters of 5-9 spikes that average around 1-2 cm’s dependent on age, often getting smaller as the cactus grows. The cap (cephalium) does not develop until the plant is mature at around 3-5 years of age and can grow as tall as the cactus itself, up to 9 cm’s in height with a width of 4-6 cm’s. The cephalium is covered with tiny red-orange hairs and once the cap is developed will begin flowering in summer quite quickly. The flowers are approximately 0.8-1 cm in size and bright pink, the fruit that follows forms a ring around the top of the cephalium that are almost fluorescent pink in colour and around 1-2 cm’s long.
FAMILY:
Cactaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
10 to 38°C / 50 to 100°F
SOIL TYPE:
Soil MUST be well draining.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 9 cm’s (3.5 inches) for body and a further 7-9 for the cap.
WIDTH:
Up to 9 cm’s (3.5 inches)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Light
POLLINATION:
Self Pollinating, Bisexual
MATURITY:
3-5 years
GERMINATION RATES:
70-89%
GERMINATION TIME:
1-3 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 2500
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT MELOCACTUS MATAZANUS (Turk’s Cap Cactus)
Due to deforestation the Turk’s Cap Cactus is critically endangered in its native region
Unlike most cacti genus’, this one is unusual because it doesn’t like to stay completely dry for very long, even during winter while they are dormant!
