Peruvian old-man cactus

Peruvian old-man cactus Care

Espostoa lanata

What is the plant

Espostoa lanata is a columnar type cactus belonging to the genus Espostoa and the family Cactaceae. The genus name honors Peruvian botanist Nicolas E. Esposto. The specific epithet, lanata, means woolly.

Peruvian Old Man Cactus is quite similar to another columnar cactus known as the Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus senilis), and care instructions for these two types of cactus are interchangeable. When young, this cactus grows very rapidly. When it reaches two years of age, growth slows quite a bit. While it is still young, Woolish Espostoa grows as a strictly columnar plant. As it matures, it may begin to branch out. Outdoors, Peruvian Old Man Cactus grows to be about 8” inches in diameter and as high as 23’ feet tall. If kept indoors, growth will naturally be somewhat controlled. Peruvian old man cactus is covered by a thick, woolly coat of white hair. This outer covering is so soft that people in Peru have actually used it as a filling for pillows.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

10°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

9b - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
A watering method is very important to keep your peruvian old man cactus healthy. It should not sit on a water, and an excess amount of water should be avoided. A best way of watering is soak and dry method this succulent. Yet, a succulent should be controlled to avoid overwatering.
Pruning
It is important to never remove more than a third of the foliage in any one year and to cut just above a node on the stem.
Fertilizer
Universal fertilizer is a granular and mineral product intended for the fertilization of all types of garden cultivations. Its balanced content is suitable both for fruit trees, fruit bushes, vegetables, and ornamental plants. The even composition of individual elements makes the fertilizer universal.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Grows it's best and fastest with full sun exposure, but it can do well in partial shade.
Soil
Mix together three parts potting soil, three parts coarse sand or gravel, and two parts perlite or pumice. Don't use a potting soil mix that contains fertilizers because the fertilizer can burn cacti roots and cause leggy growth.
Temperature
These cacti can tolerate temperatures as low as 10°F. However, they will do better if protected from freezing. Inside, normal room temperatures (65°F/18.3°C - 75°F/23.8°C) are suitable.

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Container
Plants that don't like a lot of moisture will need a drainage hole for moisture to escape and for airflow to circulate through the pot. Another important function of drainage holes is to allow water to flush the soil of excess salts from fertilizers. Terracotta containers are a good choice for cactus gardens. They let water evaporate faster than other materials. Terracotta containers are a good choice for cactus gardens. They let water evaporate faster than other materials.
Popularity
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