They usually don't flower till around 50-60 years....and that's in it's optimum growing climate. Until the plants get large, you want to give them filtered sun. They grow in the shade of a "nurse" plant in the desert till they get quite large. You could probably pot them up one size in the spring. Just don't water them for a couple weeks after you do. Winter on a windowsill should be OK....too cold is probably below 20 which wouldn't happen in the house. Only water maybe once a month in winter...and then sparingly. Others will probably chime in!

Here's a PDF file that tells all about this majestic cactus. Oh, it's 35 years till first flower!

Here is a link that might be useful: Saguaro facts

They should be dormant during the winter. No water at all is needed until early March. Since they are not growing, they do not need a lot of light. Growers back East, or in Northern climates often over-winter their plants in the basement or garage. I would not expose such young plants to sustained temperatures below freezing, but a couple of hours will not harm them. Even if they are not dormant now, withholding water will induce it. So start by doing nothing. ;)

Brad

"So start by doing nothing"

I like that tip Para, can I quote you? Bound to be useful somewhere ;>)

Are those really Saguaro seedlings? I thought Saguaros had black spines? I know the seedling I bought in Vegas last year did. But the Golden barrel seedlings I'm growing look very similar... although much smaller than those four.

Ya know.....I didn't think they looked like Saguaro. Here's a pic of mine....quite a difference.

Did anyone here on plants being mislabled. It happens all the time with orchids. How do you know your label is correct and the original poster's is not. Everyone should start to do some more research on this one. Have a good one.

Friend John,

Sorry to tell you but you got took.

The next time I'm down in AZ I'll dig one up from federally-protected lands and send it to you FOB - just give me your addy again for both sender and recipient.

That looks like a Trichocereus/Pachycereus, but it's not a Carnegia. I can get you one, but that ain't it. I'm not sure the OP has them, either - they're really hard to tell to me, sometimes, when they're that young.

Don,

Since you're new, I'll keep it short - your officiousness is off-putting. And you have a good one, too. OTOH, you were correct - it is a case of an incorrect label.

Here's my "official" packaging (and I use the term official in jest). I realize anyone can fake a package.

and this doesn't refer to the species of plant in the container

I realize they federally protected, are there legal ways to get them for personal use? Are they permitted to be sold in stores and airport gift shops?

Hey Jeff.....Thanks for the info. LOL...my Dad almost got arrested YEARS ago for digging one up! Just keep a good look over your shoulder when you are digging. I found this pic for the OP for some comparison.....I dunno, looks more like mine than mom2ednas. Maybe I'll do some more "Binging"

Here is a link that might be useful: Awww....ain't it cute!

LMAO! I am so far outta my league....every photo of these cacti look the same to me. I am obviously not seeing the differences that y'all are.

Edna's Mom,

We all start somewhere.

As I wrote, I have my doubts about your plants being C.g., but I've been wrong before. But in the end, it doesn't really matter if they are what they were sold as; it would be nice if they were, but even if they aren't they're nice columnar cacti. One nice thing about them - if they aren't C.g., you and Edna will be able to see visible growth in your lifetime and flowering, too, if things go right.

And, yes, you can legally purchase real saguaros. The label you embedded is standard for any plant leaving AZ. CA (as one of the nearest states) requires it, as would many agricultural states. I'm sorry y'all didn't get what you thought you would be, but it could be that the company doesn't know otherwise - it would be fraud if they did. And they could make the defense that it is a saguaro - a South American one (marketing mishmash). There are many South American genera/species that look like a C.g., but Carnegia, a monotypic species (the only one in the genus) is strictly North American - Arizona, Mexico and a small part of CA. I don't know if it is more widespread in Arizona than Mexico.

John,

Well, then, what I'm suggesting is a family tradition. And it is too cute for words....

EM -

No to worry. I had a cactus that I thought was saguaro for the longest time, too (still not 100% sure what it is!).

Pretty sure this little guy IS (north american) saguaro though...I think you can see the diff:

{{gwi:551044}}

Tom

Carnegiea gigantea, aka Saguaro, is endemic to southern and southwestern Arizona, the northernmost reach of its habitat. It can also be found across the state line in to California and not far from the US-Mexican border.

It's nearest cousins, also a very beautiful plant is the Pachycereus Pringlei, found in Baja California. They can rival each other in height, although the PP are much better branchers. Thus, the nickname, Candelabra Cactus. Both are prolific seeders.

I have been growing mine from seed for 3 years, and they are looking like little billy bats. Most are PPS and I will be hard pressed at this stage to tell them apart from the saguaros.

I trust what I have to be genuine, because I got my seed from Mesa Garden, a vendor I trust.

They are my favorite plants, although I have since 'branched out' to Pachypodium rosulatum, and after all the aloe threads I may give them a shot and even Euphorbias, although I shied away from them due to their toxicity. I am growing Adenium Arabicum from seed here in China. (I know, they are toxic, too)

Sagebrush:

You might already know this but Pachypodiums are apparently comparable to Adenium's in terms of toxicity.