Cephalocereus senilis
If you are looking for a unique specimen for your houseplant aggregation , countenance me introduce you toCephalocereus senilis , aka “ old man cactus , ” so named for its app of bloodless “ tomentum . ”
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The first prison term I saw one was in the desertscape indoor garden exhibit at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square , Pennsylvania . It brought back a cozy computer storage of a furry googly - eyed toy my sister and I used to sweep day by day as kids .
Photo by David J. Stang, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.
However , the similarity stops there because beneath the cuddly prettiness of quondam man cactus dwell sharp spines , the alter leave of desert cacti . I admonish you at the outset to handle this prickly industrial plant with tending !
C. senilisis suited to outdoor refinement in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10 . This clause discuss all you need to know to turn it indoors in all regions .
Here ’s what we ’ll deal :
What You’ll Learn
Let ’s get started !
What Is Old Man Cactus?
Old humankind cactus is autochthonous to eastern regions of Mexico . It is endangered in its native habitat , but commercial-grade refinement insure a quick supply of plants that have not been source from the natural state for home gardener .
Sometimes referred to as “ onetime man of Mexico , ” slow - growingC. senilishas a puritanic - green pillar - mold branchless theme . bunch of pillar sprout side by side .
Shallow ribs run up the duration of the column . Along the ribs are symmetrically arranged areoles from which three to five sharp yellow central spines protrude . These spines are modified leaves suit to abrasive desert conditions .
cover the primal spines are soft and long stellate spines that cover the stem in silver - snowy to white “ pilus . ” They insulate the stem from daytime desert estrus and cold nights .
At between 10 and 20 years old , plants pass maturity date and may develop cephalium .
This is a blurred , reddish - pinkish flowering gibbousness that emerges near the top of the theme and opens at nighttime . These are rare on plants cultivate indoors but may appear in the summertime on outdoor specimen .
In the wild and in outdoor garden preferences , ripe industrial plant may be as great as 40 feet tall and 12 inches wide .
await more modest dimensions of three feet improbable and six in across-the-board at max when cultivated indoors .
Some of these cactus can exceed 100 years sure-enough . Over the class , most of the lower hairy backbone ofC. senilisfall out while those close to the get tip of the column stay .
Propagation
There are several ways to part a plant life of your own , including from seeds , offsets , and stem turn press clipping , as well as those buy in nursery pots .
Our guide to cactus propagationprovides full details .
Let ’s take a quick look at each method .
From Seeds
While it ’s firm and well-heeled to bulge many plants from seed , such as annual bloom , this is not the example with cacti .
Per the professional at theMissouri Botanical Garden , cacti grown from come can take two to five years to become established . And that ’s if you could observe them for sale in the first position .
Aseed packetwill typically provide finish instruction , but not always .
For most types of cacti , this generally includes cold stratification , scarifying , and imbue before scatter them on a moist , sterile potting medium with a thin soil cover to anchor them in position .
Germination requires even wet and bright indirect sun .
Experts at theCornell University Cooperative Extensionrecommend covering the seeded potting spiritualist with charge plate or a humidity dome to imprint a ego - watering glasshouse . Seeds broadly speaking germinate in three daylight to three weeks .
Once sprouted , they suggest opening the plastic a bit to allow some external air to perforate .
After three to six calendar month , remove the charge plate entirely . Unless the plants become overcrowded , there is no need to transplant them to item-by-item peck until they ’re about a yr old .
To graft , take eminence of the depth of the seedlings in their container .
Select a porous , well - draining kitty for each seedling . It should measure one in larger than the stem diam .
Fill the pot one - third full of cactus and succulent soil . Set the bow at the same depth as in the original ejaculate - starting container and backfill .
From an Offset
An commencement is a infant plant life that grows beside a parent plant . Once it has roots , it ’s possible to separate an showtime from the parent to grow by itself .
If you have a supporter with a plant , you may ask for an offset printing . The best time to do so is in the saltation , during active growth .
Here ’s how to execute the separation :
Take note of how mysterious the parent and countervail sit in their pot .
Unearth the parent and offset printing .
habituate a sharp-worded , sanitized garden tongue , like ahori - hori , to sever the roots that impound the offset to the parent plant .
now repot the offset as we did with the seedling above , to the same depth .
Return the parent to its original container .
From a Stem Cutting
To begin with a root word cutting , you ’ll take to have access to an existing plant , only this time you ’ll ask your friend if you’re able to cut the top off the works . And while it may be unbelievable that you ’ll get a resounding “ Okay ! ” you may try .
During dynamic growth in the spring , pull on some protective baseball mitt and habituate a sharp sanitise knife to slice through the stem at least four inches down from the tip .
Let the cut end juiceless and form a tough callus . It can take days or hebdomad , depend upon the size of the stem , so rank it on a ravisher or theme towel out of the way where it can find bright indirect sun .
Some family dip the callus ending in rooting internal secretion gunpowder before invest it in cactus and succulent grime just deep enough to drop anchor it . Be patient , as it may take workweek for new emergence and roots to appear .
In addition to a top cut , you may take cut lower down the stem turn , depending upon its height . However , having two cut ends may make the stem cutting more prostrate to disease during the callusing period .
The remaining stem turn base will callus over and finally form unexampled growth .
Sometimes radical cuttings are made to save a specimen that is unhealthful at its al-Qaida due to over- or underwatering . Taking cuttings from specimens that are large in diam may require a saw instead of a gardening tongue .
In addition , some gardeners dip cuttings in antifungal sulfur , lime , or cinnamon , to suppress pathogen increment during callus .
From a Nursery Pot
The most naturalistic fashion to begin may be to buy a nursery - prove works . It may be only a few inch tall or further along in its development when you land it home .
irrespective of historic period and size of it , at some pointedness , you ’re going to want to transfer it from the plastic nursery pot it came in to a more ornamental container .
select a well - drain one with a diameter one inch broad than the base .
Take short letter of the profundity of the grime surface in the original container .
Use a thick towel or garden gloves to hold the cactus as you unpot it .
sate the new grass one - third full of quality cactus and lush soil .
put the contents of the original container in the new one . Take care to set the theme at the same height it was in the original container . Backfill to hold the stem firmly in position .
There should be at least half an inch and no more than one in of space between the soil airfoil and pot rim to facilitate watering without overspill .
Now let ’s move from propagation to growing .
How to Grow
In its native habitat and in outside garden , C. senilisrequires afull sunlocation and well - draining , sandlike dirt with a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5.We can mimic these ethnical requirements indoors .
Start with a suitable Mary Jane .
The best container for a desert cactus is made of a porous material like glassless clay , because this allows wet to vaporise and forestall oversaturation . One or more drain holes are essential .
The diam should be one inch wider than the current sizing of the cactus .
It ’s effective to graduate pot sizes as needed rather than starting with an oversized muckle because cacti ascendant favour to be snug , and implant in too much soil can lead to inadvertent overwatering .
Along with an appropriate pot , you ’ll demand to purchase a good quality cactus and succulent potting medium likethis one , available from Tank’s - Pro via Amazonin 16 - dry quart grip .
Tank’s - Pro Cactus and Succulent Mix
Tank’s - professional Cactus and Succulent Mix contains horticultural pumice , coconut chaff chips , and organic compost to elevate drainage and support nutrition .
We also have directions formaking your own cactus pot soil .
As mentioned , when planting in the container of your choice , set the radical at the same depth as in the original container to reduce transplant stress and minimize the risk of rotting .
There should be at least half an inch of “ top dog space ” above the soil Earth’s surface to permit tearing without soil overflow .
Water using the “ juiceless and soak ” method acting , allowing the soil to dry out entirely before you give it a thorough soaking . Use amoisture meteras a template .
Water as needed during active increment and reduce watering during wintertime sleeping .
pick out a south - face window for optimum daytime photo – the good the light , the more abundant the hairy spines will be .
The ideal room temperature during the growing time of year is in the 65 to 85 ° F range .
If possible , relocate the pot to a setting with a temperature of 55 to 60 ° farad during winter dormancy .
This desert species is accustomed to dry strain , so the lower the humidness , the better . If summer humidity is a problem in your dwelling house , consider running a dehumidifier along with your air conditioner to get down it .
Per theNational Asthma Council , 30 to 50 per centum humidityis the most comfortable range for people , so do n’t go too low .
Growing Tips
This easy - produce cactus is easy to give a healthy start when you :
Once establish , there are a few garden chore to consider .
Maintenance
Cacti generally require little maintenance .
However , there are a few tasks you ’ll want to undertake for optimal wellness and coming into court .
Water
As discussed above , use a moisture meter and the soaking and dry method acting to irrigate deeply when the peck is wholly ironic .
When watering , allow sentence for the pot to fully run out before returning to its permanent localization . Keep the dish below the pot dry to avoid standing water that may result in rotting .
Fertilize
Per the expert of theUniversity of Minnesota Extension , cacti benefit from a dose of fertilizer in the belated saltation . A second dose in the summertime is optional .
employ a half - strength melted houseplant food formulate for cactus and succulents . It should contain more atomic number 15 than atomic number 7 in the N - P - K ratio .
Miracle - Gro Succulent Plant Food
Miracle - Gro Succulent Plant Food meets the above recommendations . It contains twice as much P ( phosphate ) as nitrogen and can be diluted with piss .
Miracle - Gro Succulent Plant Food isavailable from Miracle - Gro via Amazonin a twin - multitude of two eight - ounce feeding bottle .
Repot
With this slow - growing species , you will rarely need to repot .
However , if you see roots prod through the stool ’s drainage hole , unpot the plant and check to see if the roots are restrain or wound tightly around the plant with little visible soil .
When the roots are highly obtuse , water system insight and nutrient consumption are hapless .
While cacti choose a fuddled fit , once the roots fulfill the pot , it ’s estimable to go up one muckle sizing and refresh the potting soil .
The skillful time to repot is during winter dormancy , as this causes less stress than it would during active ontogeny .
come up more point on repotting cactus here .
Shampoo
And in conclusion , give your cactus a spring shampoo . Airborne rubble , old age , bugs , and grease splash from repotting can colour the radial spines , detracting from their luster . This is an optional chore .
Wear gloves and try not to squeeze the sharp central spines beneath the hair .
Add a drop or two of babe shampoo or other modest grievous bodily harm per cup of tepid hydrant pee and mixture .
rationalize a hole an inch larger than the base in a plastic food depot or grocery bag . Bring the cutting bag down over the stem all the way to the Qaeda to avail keep the soil and keep it from becoming soapy during shampooing .
Holding the bag around the pot , slant the pot over the sump and pour the soap soapsuds over the fuzz .
spread out the pot to wet all of the pilus and loose dust .
Rinse the stem under a gentle flow of tepid spigot water to remove the soap and debris .
Gently comb out or brush the hairsbreadth and pat it dry . Some folks apply an old toothbrush . Mind the sharp fundamental spines for your own safety and to forefend damaging them .
Return the mess to its permanent locating in bright collateral sunlight .
In improver to these workaday labor , on a regular basis supervise for signs of the pests and diseases discussed below .
Where to Buy
The quick way to get started is with a nursery - raised plant .
initiate pocket-sized , and increase the corporation size as it age . think back to employ a towel or gloves during transplanting to keep off being pricked by the spines .
Old Man Cactus
honest-to-god valet de chambre cactus plants areavailable via Amazonin four - inch starter pots .
Managing Pests and Disease
Generally talk , cacti are not prone to pest and diseases . However , houseplants in ironical options may shine victim to the following pest :
Learn more about plebeian cacti pests here .
As for disease , there is one to be aware of :
Cactus Root Rot
The weewee molding ( oomycete)Phytophthora cactorumcauses cactus root rot . The first sign may be brownish stain at the bow radical . life-threatening legal injury may be irreparable , but you may still be able-bodied to take and steady down a stem cutting and start over .
To avoid rotting roots , take care not to overwater , and plant only in a poriferous medium in well - drain containers .
Best Uses
Cacti are humbled - sustainment , urine - wise houseplants that make optic - catching rack - alone specimen .
They also act well withbromeliads , other cacti , and succulent coinage that portion out similar cultural requirements .
If you survive in Zone 9 or 10 , consider summate previous military personnel cactus to yourxeriscapingdesign system outdoors .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
A Statuesque Desert Gentleman
honest-to-god man cactus ’ wavy white fuzz and columnar growth use contribute textural and perpendicular interest to indoor decor .
Whether as a stand - alone specimen or among companions , C. senilisis a species that commands attention while asking little in rejoinder .
Take out yourgarden plannertoday and make elbow room in your indoor garden for this statuesque valet of the desert .
If you enjoy read about this works , we recommend the following cacti guidesnext :
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Nan Schiller
