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Species library › Pediocactus › Pediocactus simpsonii
Succulents Well documented

Pediocactus simpsonii

Mountain ball cactus, a small globular cactus of the interior western United States that grows higher than any other North American cactus. It is extremely cold-hardy but rots easily and dislikes heat, so it needs a cold, dry winter and very sharp drainage.

Pediocactus simpsonii
Photo: Rebou at German Wikipedia (Original text: Rebou), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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

Dry slopes and rock outcrops in ponderosa pine forest, pinyon–juniper woodland, sagebrush steppe and shortgrass prairie, often on granite or sandstone.

About 1,400–3,500 m; recorded elevations 1,450–3,170 m, median 2,129 m.

ArizonaColoradoIdahoMontanaNevadaNew MexicoSouth DakotaUtahWyoming

🔒 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. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its Public domain licence, unmodified.