San Pedro cacti cultivating

San Pedro cacti cultivating
San pedro cactus in a pot
Taxonomical nomenclature
Kingdom	Plantae
Unranked	Angiosperms
Unranked	Eudicots
Unranked	Core eudicots
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Cactaceae
Genus	Echinopsis
Species	E. pachanoi
Common nomenclature
Common names	San pedro cactus
Constituents
Active constituents	Mescaline, Tyramine, ect.

San pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi aka Trichocereus pachanoi) is a large, spine-less, pillar-shaped cactus which can reach up to 6 meters height. It contains mescaline among other psychoactive alkaloids. Similar cacti like Peruvian torch (Echinopsis peruviana) or Bolivian torch (Echinopsis lageniformis) will grow under similar conditions.

Substrate

Fertilizing

San Pedro is benefited by the addition of diluted liquid fertilizer added to the water every second or third watering during their growing season. Any standard houseplant fertilizer with balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash (20-20-20) can be used.

Compost

The substrate is more effective when containing rotting sources of carbon, fresh sources will rob nitrogen from the plants as soil microorganisms try to break it down. Poorly made compost (anaerobic decomposition) can be harmful as it is full of pathogenic organisms.

Light and temperature

Sun burning

A sunburned San Pedro

Cloning

Cutting

Like many other plants, Echinopsis pachanoi can be propagated from cuttings. The result is a genetic clone of the parent plant. For example, the top 15 cm end of a cactus column can be cut off with a clean and sterilized knife (It can be sterilized with ethanol or fire), then the cutting can be left to dry for about two weeks in the shade, or in a dry place. This is so that the surface of the cut end dries out like paper forming a seal to keep out microbes such as fungi and bacteria. The cutting can then be dipped in rooting hormone (optional, but effective) and planted on the surface of or buried to a maximum of 2.5 cm deep in good propagation media mixed with some sand and perlite. The sand and perlite will ensure that the media will drain and not stay too wet. The cutting is kept in the shade or indirect sunlight, so that the root system can develop and the cactus does not grow too thinly. It is best to withhold watering for first two week to encourage the root to grow. The moisture in the media alone is sufficient to begin the formation of adventitious roots. Lightly tug on the cactus to check for root formation. Do not attempt to pull the cactus all the way out of the soil to examine it. You will damage any roots that may have already begun to form. After about six months, significant roots will have formed and the cutting can be repotted in the same type of medium.

A Cereus cactus cutting planted with log method.

Log method

A long cactus column can be laid on its side on the ground (like a log), and eventually roots will sprout from it and grow into the ground. After time, sprouts will form and cactus columns will grow upward out of it along its length.

Seed

Growing from seeds is a little bit more difficult and it is slower than the cutting method. Seeds need several months to germinate and develop roots.

Pests and diseases

Mealybug

Mealybug

Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm climates. They are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and subtropical trees and also act as a vector for several plant diseases. because of the protection layer these insects make, contact pesticides will not kill them, therefor a systemic pesticide should be used.

Dormancy

Most cacti, including San Pedro are essentially dormant during the winter. Because they aren't growing, they need very little water and no fertilizer, and they thrive on cool temperatures. In winter San Pedro need only a light watering every few weeks to dampen the roots slightly and keep the plants from shriveling. During this time even once-a-week watering may be too much and over-watered plants may rot.

A very hot climate or stress caused by changed pot or climate also can put the plant in dormancy state.