Peruvian Apple Cactus

Peruvian Apple Cactus Care

Cereus peruvianus

What is the plant

Under natural conditions, Cereus repandus (also Cereus peruvianus) is a giant compared to a person, reaching a height of 19 ft (6 m) to 32 ft (10 m) but sometimes up to 65 ft (20 m). At home, people grow quite compact species. These cactuses are not capricious and undemanding in care, making them easy to grow indoors.

Cereus repandus or Cereus peruvianus (Peruvian apple cactus) is a massive fast-growing edible columnar cactus native to Peru. These plants grow in South and Central America and Western India and are long-lived in the plant world. Its surface is waxy, gray-green. The cactus has snow-white flowers and fruit, red or orange berries.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

8°C - 12°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Do not water the plant with too hard or cold water. In the spring-summer period, watering should be moderate. But with the onset of fall, it should be gradually reduced and must be extremely scarce in winter.
Pruning
Fall is the best time to prune your apple cactus. Prune it when the plant stops producing new branches, or it becomes difficult to harvest fruit due to intensive growth.
Fertilizer
Use a slow-release fertilizer throughout the whole growing season.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
This plant needs light in sufficient quantities both during summer and winter, so place the cereus on a window with a southeast or south orientation. Although such plants adore the sun's direct rays, burns may appear on their surface in spring and summer. To avoid it, accustom the cereus to direct sunlight gradually at the end of the winter period.
Soil
Take well-drained cactus soil with plenty of sand.
Propagation
In the natural environment, the plant reproduces with the help of seeds. But the parts break off from the stem and take root, similarly to cuttings. At home, the rocky forms can only grow from cuttings.

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Temperature
In winter, the recommended temperature ranges from 46-53 ̊F (8-12 ̊С). The cactus is not afraid of heat and sudden temperature changes in the warm period. Move the cactus to fresh air in the summer until the beginning of fall.
Container
You can grow an apple cactus in a container or a flower pot.
Fun fact
Peruvian apple cactus is a good source of vitamins B, C, and E, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. However, the fragrance released from the flowers can cause sleep disturbance in susceptible individuals.