Melocactus holguinensis

A Turk's cap cactus described from Holguín in eastern Cuba, now usually treated as part of the widespread Melocactus curvispinus. Like all Melocactus it needs full sun, constant warmth and a sharp-draining mineral mix, and it resents cold, wet roots.

At home, aim for

Day Warm-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

The name refers to coastal dry scrub in Holguín, Cuba; the wider species it is lumped into grows in tropical dry forest and thorn scrub on rocky, often limestone or serpentine ground from Mexico to Venezuela.

Records span 0-1,489 m (median 725 m), but those belong to the broader species; Cuban plants grow near sea level.

Cuba (Holguín)MexicoGuatemalaHondurasNicaraguaCosta RicaColombiaVenezuelaAruba

🔒 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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More Melocactus

Melocactus curvispinus Melocactus macracanthos Melocactus azureus Melocactus bahiensis Melocactus bellavistensis Melocactus caroli-linnaei Melocactus ernestii Melocactus levitestatus Melocactus matanzanus Melocactus violaceus Melocactus conoideus Melocactus intortus All 53 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY 4.0 licence, unmodified.