Pelecyphora strobiliformis

A tiny, pine-cone-like cactus, formerly Encephalocarpus strobiliformis, that sits almost flush with the ground on limestone hills of northeastern Mexico. It needs bright sun, a mineral mix, summer water and a dry winter, and it rots quickly when overwatered.

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

Grows half-buried in shallow, stony limestone soils in Chihuahuan Desert scrub, often hidden among rocks and grasses. Habitat notes come from the measured sites and the genus.

Records fall at 1,554–1,890 m, median 1,755 m.

Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí)

🔒 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 CC BY-SA 3.0 licence, unmodified.