Product Description:
Echinopsis Pachanoi, also known as Trichocereus Pachanoi, Achuma, Cactus of the Four Winds, or the San Pedro Cactus, is a very easy-to-grow and popular columnar cactus. Natively found in South American countries like Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador but grown in other parts of the world as well, this impressive cactus is quite fast-growing and it can reach up to 20 feet (3m) in height. The San Pedro cactus is the perfect plant for any green thumb. With its unique shape and vibrant colors, this ornamental cactus is sure to turn heads. But don’t be fooled. “Echinopsis Pachanoi”, a San Pedro cactus can be a great houseplant choice to liven up any space.
Light:
San Pedro cacti need a lot of natural light and mature plants don’t mind being in full sun. If grown indoors plants will need addition lighting from grow lights.
Water:
When planted outdoors, San Pedro cacti will need more frequent watering in summer, and minimal watering in the cold winter months.
Soil:
Trichocereus pachanoi requires fertile, slightly acidic potting soil with good drainage.
Fertilizer:
Cacti do need fertilizer, not a lot though. In pots, it is best to add slow-release fertilizer pellets that break down over time. Osmocote is good, especially the type for nutrient-poor soils. Soil conditioners such as diluted Seasol also help.
Temperature:
A mature San Pedro cactus plant can withstand temperatures as low as 15 °C, and if it mutates to the cold environment, it can steadily thrive even when surrounding conditions are below 5°C.
How to propagate the San Pedro cactus:
- Take a cutting of 8-10cm from one of the arms and prepare the substrate.
- Leave it in a cool and dry place so that the cuts heal properly. There should be no ambient humidity.
- Stick the piece of San Pedro cactus in the pot with the prepared substrate and keep it indoors at a temperature above 22ºC. It is convenient to make the cuttings in the hot months when the temperatures of a house calmly touch 25-28ºC during the day.
- Do not water absolutely anything until 2 weeks pass.
- After a few more days, remove the cactus and it will surely have taken pot.
- It is time to transplant it to the definitive substrate. This must be rich in organic and draining matter (see the soil section).
Repotting:
Trichocereus will happily sit in small pots for years, but grow best when they put down large root systems. A good practice is to re-pot every couple of years. To remove them from their pot, loosen and trim their roots a little and then re-pot into a larger pot. The best way to re-pot them is to hold the cactus with one hand in the position you want it in the pot, then let the roots hang down and fill in the soil. Leave a gap at the top to allow space for watering.
