Peruvian Torch Cactus Cutting

Trichocereus peruvianus (syn. Trichocereus macrogonus, Echinopsis macrogona)

$45.00

Unrooted cutting, you root it (cut end already healed)

Buy 3 or more: save 10% Buy 5 or more: save 20% Mix any cacti you like, rooted or cutting. Specimens excluded. Applied automatically at checkout, no code needed.

Free shipping on orders over $99

Description

Trichocereus peruvianus (trik-oh-SEER-ee-us peh-roo-vee-AH-nus) (syn. Trichocereus macrogonus; Echinopsis macrogona), the Peruvian torch, is a thick, chalky-blue column (glaucous), stouter than most, with stiff amber spines. Vigorous once established, it can reach 10 to 20 feet, leaning and branching with age.

Native to the western Andean slopes of Peru, it is now treated as part of Trichocereus macrogonus and is one of the most sought-after blue columns in cultivation.

Every cutting comes off mature mother plants we grow in full California sun, which is what thickens the skin and deepens the chalky blue this species is wanted for. We take tips rather than mid-sections, cut thick and true to type, then cure them until the end is callused and ready to root.

This listing is an unrooted tip cutting, 10 to 12 inches long, a fresh, callused segment you root yourself. Like all our plants it ships bare-root, with no pot or soil.

Sold strictly as an ornamental specimen.

Tending to your Peruvian Torch Cactus Cutting

Cold tolerance depends on how dry and how brief the cold is. Hardy in the ground in USDA zone 9 and warmer. Damage can begin in the mid-20s F, and a hard freeze into the low 20s or below will injure an exposed plant, though a brief, dry dip is often survived. In colder zones, grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter, kept dry so it takes the cold better.

These are sun-loving cacti that want roughly 6 to 8 hours of direct light a day, and how you give it changes how they grow. They come from the sun-drenched slopes and high deserts of the Andes, where the light is strong but the air stays cool, so they love bright light yet can scorch under relentless, low-elevation afternoon sun. In full sun an established plant stays stocky and firm, with tighter ribs and stronger spines. In part shade it grows faster and greener but softer, and too little light stretches it into thin, pale, weak growth (etiolation). Green tissue that has not seen strong sun will scar permanently if you move it into full sun too quickly, so acclimate over 2 to 4 weeks, starting with morning sun or 30 to 50 percent shade cloth. In very hot, dry regions a little midsummer afternoon shade protects even mature potted plants. Indoors, give it your brightest south-facing window or a grow light.

The rule is soak, then dry. Water deeply so the whole root zone is wet, then wait until the top inch or two of mix is dry to the touch before watering again. In warm growing weather, around 70 to 90 F, that often means about every 10 to 14 days in a pot, and less in the ground, so go by how fast your soil dries rather than the calendar. As temperatures fall below about 60 F in autumn the plant slows toward dormancy, so taper off, and through a cool winter keep it nearly dry. Water sitting in cold soil is the fastest route to root rot. In humid climates, water less, lean on a fast-draining mix and good airflow, and water in the morning so the plant dries quickly.

Fast-draining and gritty. A cactus mix cut with extra pumice or perlite keeps roots happy and rot away.

Feed only while it is actively growing, roughly spring through early fall. A balanced or low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer diluted to about half strength, applied every three to four weeks during that window, is plenty. Always fertilize onto already-moist soil rather than dry roots, and water normally afterward. As growth slows in fall, stop feeding entirely and give it nothing through winter, when the plant is resting and cannot use it. Too much nitrogen pushes soft, fast growth that flops and marks easily, so err on the lean side. These cacti are adapted to poor ground and do far better underfed than overfed.

Most Trichocereus need repotting only every two to three years, or when roots fill the pot and begin escaping the drainage holes. Spring, as the plant wakes into active growth, is the ideal time. Move up just one pot size, since an oversized pot holds water the roots cannot reach and invites rot, so a snug fit is safer than a roomy one. Repot into dry, fast-draining mix and wait about a week before the first watering. That pause lets any roots nicked during the move dry and callus rather than sit wet and rot. Terracotta breathes and dries faster than plastic or glazed pots, which suits a cactus well. To handle a spiny column without injury, wrap it in a few folds of newspaper or a strip of carpet and wear thick gloves.

Trichocereus grow easily from cuttings, which is the usual way to propagate them. To take a cutting, slice cleanly through the column with a sharp, sanitized blade, then stand the cut piece upright somewhere dry, shaded, and airy for one to three weeks until the wound forms a firm, dry callus. Planting before it calluses invites rot, so do not rush this step. Once callused, set the cut end an inch or two into dry, gritty mix, just deep enough to stand on its own, and keep it in bright, indirect light. Hold off on water for the first week or two, then water lightly and let it dry completely between waterings, so roots follow the moisture without rotting the base. In summer warmth a cutting often roots in two to four weeks; in cool weather it may take a couple of months or simply wait for spring, which is normal. A gentle tug tells you when roots have taken hold, since resistance means it is anchored.

Peruvian Torch Cactus Cutting

Description

Tending to your Peruvian Torch Cactus Cutting

You may also like

THOUGHTFUL PRICKS

Get exclusive deals and early access to new products!

Your cart is empty

Your cart is empty