My first cactus, pointers please?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I have been wanting a columnar cactus for sometime, just hadn't made the plunge due to my winter lighting. Now that I have a halfway decent set up, I couldn't resist saying yes to one offered me in a trade recently. I am now owner of a small but healthy and very well rooted San Pedro cutting. Only trouble is that the resources I am finding on this species...well, it isn't the information I am looking for or interested in.

I did manage to pick up that they root and grow quickly, need a bit more water than the average cacti, and did read somewhere they can handle larger pot sizes than most cacti due to faster growth rates. However, I am not entirely certain I trust the source.

Does anyone grow these indoors that could give me some tips for making this little guy happy? Also of interest to me is what kind of temperatures it can withstand. I would like to grow it outdoors over the summer if I can figure out a way to keep it safe from deer, and not sure at what temperature I can leave it outside safely.

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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

It's all true, Kim, in one fashion or another. This Trichocereus is easy to grow, pretty forgiving, and also grows quickly. I hope you got one that will eventually crest, too!

It can take brief amounts of frost / freezing temps as long as it's dry (and even not so much), as long as its roots aren't waterlogged (and even then, you could take pieces off in case the roots froze). As I said, this is a very forgiving columnar. Grow it outside in the summer, gradually acclimatizing it to full sun. It's safe when nighttime temps are 50F and above, and maybe lower, too. To keep it safe from the deer, give it a pot that would accommodate a rolled up / framed screen of hardware cloth (1/2" is the strongest).

Give it as much warmth now as you can, and as much light (I can't speak for growing under lights, but I'd guess you'd give it as much as you can).

Something you may not have come across was an article a number of years back about how the shamans' tools for ingesting this plant were found to have been employed - it wasn't orally, but I don't want to spoil the surprise.

It's a fun plant to grow - yours should do well, and in a slightly-larger-than-usual pot is fine, as long as it's got drainage. These plants like some actual soil in their mix (in case you're a barker in your making of potting mix, I'd not use it, but then again, I don't use it with any succulent plants, so there's that). Something like 50% pumice/grit, 30% Turface and 20% soil should be OK, depending on your cultivation conditions.

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Comments (8)

ehuns27 7a PA
10 years ago
I have been looking everywhere for a crested Trichocereus (online) and haven't found one - at least one reasonably priced. Is that uncommon, Jeff?

The only thing I can really add is that I don't think deer would really bother with it. I live on a national park with an overwhelming deer population and I've never had any issues with any of my C&S outside.

-Erica
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cactusmcharris, interior BC Z4/5
10 years ago
Erica,

Here's one for you - it now resides, rather appropriately I reckon, in the actor Robert Englund's wife's garden.

Not uncommon in San Diego when I lived there and I've seen them in the Phoenix area occasionally - what about if I look for one for both of us (assuming I find one in San Diego, I'll cut a piece off for me and send the majority to you)? How much bankroll are we talking about here?
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
Heheheh, snag me a piece too while you are at it. ;) Thanks for the information guys. I am probably on some kind of list now over this one, ha! I have it in my brightest window right now, the weather is back to usual dreary spokane spring time stuff so may stickcit under one of my LED's for a bit.

I like the chicken wire idea, and I have a ton of it. If nothing else it will help keep my two mutts and my friends idiot mutt from trampling it... friends mutt is still young, with no concept or understanding of the phrase, get outta the garden! ;)
Polypompholyx
10 years ago
I'm surprised deer will eat cacti like San Pedro. I thought sampling it would discourage them from trying it again.

ehuns27, I'm guessing the deer at your place have plenty of their regular foods.
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
The deer here seem to enjoy sampling my plants more so than usual, darn things. The cactus will probably be fine, I am just still annoyed that they treated my semperviviums like a breakfast buffet earlier this year, the jerks!
Polypompholyx
10 years ago
I'm not a deer expert but are there different kinds of deer across the USA? I wouldn't be surprised if some kinds of deer are more willing to experiment with their diet.
Kim
Original Author
10 years ago
There are, I have both whitetail and mule deer in my neighborhood.