This species is a specialist in atmospheric moisture harvesting. In the rugged terrain of Los Zanjones, the plants rely almost exclusively on the "Camanchaca" fog to survive. Their primary growth phase occurs during the cooler months of winter and early spring when the fog is most persistent and the night temperatures remain low. During this time, they absorb moisture through their spines and epidermis, as well as via their extensive, shallow root systems that catch condensation dripping from the rocks. In cultivation, the JN 2618 field number is highly sought after for its intense, dark spination and the characteristic grey-blue waxy coating (farina) that develops on the epidermis with age. It is extremely sensitive to excess moisture and stagnant air. To mimic its native canyon habitat, it requires a strictly mineral substrate—such as a mix of 80% pumice and decomposed granite—to ensure rapid drainage around the neck and roots. Watering should be light and opportunistic, ideally timed with cool evenings during the spring and autumn, while maintaining a strict dry dormancy during the heat of mid-summer and the coldest part of winter.