Wilcoxia LEUCANTHA

Wilcoxia LEUCANTHA - Wilcoxia leucantha, Wilcoxia albiflora, White-flowered wilcoxia, Dahlia cactus.

A rare collectible cactus!

Wilcoxias are remarkable plants: their flowers continue to increase in size until they fade. Representatives of the genus propagate well by seeds and cuttings. The latter develop typical tuberous roots within a year. New plants can also be obtained by dividing such roots. Under natural conditions, wilcoxias often regenerate from tuberous roots when the aboveground part of the plant dies off during drought or when browsed by animals such as goats.

Wilcoxias grow in the southern part of the state of Texas, USA, as well as in diverse habitats in Mexico - from the state of Coahuila to the southern part of the state of Puebla and Baja California. They always grow in the shade of other plants, especially spiny shrubs, whose branches the weak shoots of wilcoxias use as a support. They are usually distributed at low altitudes.

The stems are distinctly ribbed, reaching no more than 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and 0.9 cm (0.4 in) in diameter. There are usually up to 10 rounded narrow ribs; areoles sit so closely on the ribs that their pubescence merges into a single continuous mass covering the stem.

The flowers are broadly funnel-shaped or with strongly reflexed perianth segments, from 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) in diameter, white, pink, or red, remaining open for about two days. The fruit is oval-shaped, up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long, weakly fleshy, covered with short spines, reddish-green when ripe.

Wilcoxia leucantha grows up to 20 cm (8 in). Small whitish spines are gathered in radial clusters on slender, short green stems. It blooms with tubular flowers up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, white and pink in color.

Seeds are sown superficially, without burying, into a cactus mix diluted by half with sand. They are moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering and desiccation of the sowings must be avoided.

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The minimum temperature is around 6 °C (43 °F). During the dormant period, wilcoxias should be kept in a dry, cool place at 5–10 °C (41–50 °F). It prefers brightly lit places without direct sunlight.

There are no special requirements for air humidity; even in hot weather it does not need spraying. Watering should be moderate in summer; during the dormant period watering is reduced, but the roots should never be allowed to dry out completely.

The substrate should be light and well-drained, for example consisting of 40% leaf mold, 10% peat, and 50% coarse sand. It is fed monthly during the active growth period with fertilizers for cacti and succulents at half strength.

Adult plants are repotted once every 2-3 years in spring. Every 3 years, prune old faded stems so that the plant is denser and produces new flowering shoots. In cultivation, it blooms without much trouble. The flowering period is from April to August.