Eriosyce paucicostata

A grey-blue, few-ribbed globular to short-columnar cactus from the coastal fog desert of southwestern Antofagasta, northern Chile (formerly Neoporteria paucicostata, which holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit). In the wild it lives on almost no rain and gets its moisture from coastal fog. Grow it hard: lots of sun, very sparse water, and a cool dry winter.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Rocky coastal slopes and hills in the Atacama fog zone around Taltal and Paposo, where rain hardly ever falls and the moisture comes from the camanchaca sea fog.

Mostly from sea level to a few hundred metres (median of records 300 m), occasionally to about 1,800 m.

Chile (Antofagasta)

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.