| 2005 |
| The Getty Museum in Los
Angeles has a roof top filled with cacti. A field of
Agave, Barrel cactus and, yes, San Pedro! No access is granted to
the public so you may view it from the visitor area.
Image... |
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San Pedro cactus
are technically known as
Trichocereus Pachanoi—a readily recognized variety whereas other
Peruvian cactus are harder to name. Trichocereus Bridgesii has definite features such as long spines
and blue skin color. But Trichocereus Peruvianus is sometimes called
Peruvian Torch—yet there is wide
variation in these cacti. Peruvianus may vary from green to blue,
from short spines to long ones. The key difference from San Pedro is
that Peruvianus are fatter, bluer, longer spined and grow more vigorously
than San Pedro—which is saying something since
San Pedro is a rapid growing species!
The real Peruvian torch is blue. There are so few of these available for sale in the
United States that some dealers are selling Trichocereus Cuzcoensis as "San Pedro Macho" and calling
it "Peruvianus". |
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Rooting columns with branches
Mature sections with tips are tricky to root. Tips
are easier and faster, but creating a mature plant from a column is
worth the effort. Here are a few suggestions to help you be successful. |
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Container grown San Pedro
If you grow San Pedro in containers you can move
them into a house or garage to protect them during the winter. But
container grown plants need fresh soil; here is how I mulch mine
with fresh compost. |
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Tip Comparison
Not all San Pedro look the same, but before you
conclude that these are different varieties consider growing
conditions.
1) The bluish tip at left was grown in a shady location. The
yellow colored one in full sun. If you want taller/thinner/bluer
San Pedro grow them under a tree.
2) The 9 ribbed specimen simply means the column is older, more
mature. As the plants age I have seen them transition to more
ribs. The 7 ribbed tip is from a younger column.
If you root these two specimens you can grow identical plants by
giving them identical growing conditions; all their new buds
(tips) will look the same. |
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