Unrooted monstrose Peruvian apple cactus cutting, Cereus repandus, 10 to 12 inch, knobby growth

Monstrose Peruvian Apple Cactus Cutting

10-12"
$85.00
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Unrooted monstrose Peruvian apple cactus cutting, Cereus repandus, 10 to 12 inch, knobby growth
  • Unrooted monstrose Peruvian apple cactus cutting, Cereus repandus, 10 to 12 inch, knobby growth
  • Knobby growing points on a monstrose Peruvian apple cactus cutting, Cereus repandus
  • Callused cut end of monstrose Peruvian apple cactus cutting, Cereus repandus
Monstrose Peruvian Apple Cactus Cutting

Monstrose Peruvian Apple Cactus Cutting

Cereus repandus (monstrose form) (syn. Cereus peruvianus)

$85.00

Unrooted 10 to 12 inch cutting, callused and ready to root

What you receive: One unrooted monstrose Peruvian apple cutting, 10 to 12 inches long, with the cut end dried and callused, ready to root. Like all our plants it ships bare-root, with no pot or soil. Monstrose growth is naturally irregular, so the exact shape, knobbing, and branching will differ from the photos. Minor scarring is normal.

Size10-12"
Pack size

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Description

Cereus repandus (SEER-ee-us reh-PAN-dus) (syn. Cereus peruvianus), the plant most people know as the Peruvian apple cactus, is here in its monstrose form: a mutation that turns one growing point into many, so instead of the plain form's tall ribbed column it grows as a dense, knobby, largely ribless mass that thickens outward rather than up. No two monstrose stems branch quite the same way.

The species comes from the southern Caribbean and the dry coasts of northern South America, from Aruba and the Antilles across Venezuela into Colombia, where the ordinary columnar form grows tall and opens large, night-blooming white flowers for bats. The genus name, Cereus, comes from a Greek and Latin word for wax, torch, or candle, after the plain form's tall, upright shape. The monstrose mutation does not come true from seed, so every monstrose plant in the trade, ours included, is kept going by cuttings taken off an existing monstrose mother.

Every cutting we offer is cut from an actively growing point on a mature mother plant we grow, so what you root already has a head start over a fresh seedling.

This listing is an unrooted cutting, 10 to 12 inches, a fresh, callused piece you root yourself. Like all our plants it ships bare-root, with no pot or soil. Monstrose growth is naturally irregular, so the exact shape, knobbing, and branching of the piece you receive will differ from the photos.

Special note: this cactus is non-toxic to people and pets, and the ripe fruit of the species, the pitaya or Peruvian apple, is edible. Monstrose plants vary in how freely they flower and fruit, but our own monstrose mother plants fruit well.

Tending to your Monstrose Peruvian Apple Cactus Cutting

Mature monstrose Peruvian apple cactus, Cereus repandus, knobby specimen in flower at our nursery
Hardiness Zone: zone 9b-10 (tender)

This is a tender cactus, reliably hardy outdoors year-round only in about USDA zone 9b to 10 and warmer. Kept bone dry, an established plant takes brief cold to roughly 25 F, but the knobby, irregular tissue holds water in its folds and rots readily in wet cold, more so than the plain columnar form, and a hard freeze will kill it. Start protecting at 30 F, earlier for pots and in wet winters. Protect a cutting or newly rooted plant from any frost. Everywhere colder than zone 9b to 10, grow it as a potted plant you move indoors, or into a bright, frost-free spot, for winter. These figures are held to the safer, tenderer end on purpose.
Light: bright light to full sun, shade in heat

This cactus wants bright light and takes full sun in mild and coastal climates, which keeps growth compact. A plant that has been indoors or in shade will scorch if moved straight into hot, direct sun, so acclimate it gradually: several weeks in light shade, then add direct sun a little at a time over several more weeks, morning sun first. In hot inland or low-desert areas, including our Riverside County nursery, give it a little afternoon shade in midsummer. Indoors, a bright south or west window or a grow light suits it.
Water: soak, dry fully

Water deeply, then let the soil dry out completely before watering again. In warm growing weather that is roughly every 2 to 3 weeks in a pot, and much less in cool months when growth slows. Keep it nearly dry through winter. Overwatering is the main way these plants are lost, and the monstrose form is more prone to rot than a normal column because water can sit in the folds between its knobby growing points, so err on the dry side and water at the base rather than into the folds.
Soil: gritty (fast-draining)

A gritty, fast-draining mix is essential, even more so than for a normal cactus, because the knobby tissue holds moisture where segments meet and rots if the roots stay wet. A standard cactus and succulent mix cut with extra pumice or perlite works well, and a pot with a drainage hole matters as much as the mix. Terracotta dries faster than plastic or glazed pots, which helps in cool or humid conditions. In a hot, dry climate plastic is fine.
Fertilizing: spring to summer

Feed lightly and only while it is actively growing, roughly spring through early fall. A balanced cactus fertilizer diluted to about half strength every month or so during that window is plenty. Always feed onto already-moist soil, never dry roots, and stop entirely through winter when the plant is resting. It does far better underfed than overfed.
Re-potting: spring, snug

Once rooted and growing, repot every 2 to 3 years, best done in spring as growth picks up. Move up just one pot size, since an oversized pot holds water the roots cannot use and invites rot, and use fresh, fast-draining mix. Handle the knobby growth carefully, since the irregular tissue is more brittle at the joints than a round stem. Let a repotted plant settle for about a week before its first watering so any disturbed roots can callus rather than sit wet.
Propagation: monstrose cuttings only

Monstrose plants are grown from cuttings taken off an existing monstrose mother, since the mutation does not come true from seed. Use a sharp, clean blade. Wipe off any sap and dirt, then wipe the blade with 70% isopropyl alcohol so it stays wet for at least 30 seconds. Let it air dry. Take a piece, let the cut end dry and callus for several days to a week, then set it upright on dry, gritty mix in bright, indirect light and give it no water at all until it has rooted. The cutting is living on water it stored before it was cut, which is ample for growing roots, and water it cannot take up only sits against the cut end and invites rot. Rooting usually takes about 4 to 8 weeks in warm weather, considerably longer in cooler weather or less than ideal conditions; the irregular, knobby growth can callus and root a little more slowly and unevenly than a normal column, so patience helps. A gentle tug that meets resistance means roots have taken hold; water lightly that first time, then move to soak and dry.

Learn more in the Journal

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