Image – Wikimedia/Siam 07
Columnar cacti like the Cereus jamacaru They are ideal for planting in pots and having them on a patio or terrace, but they also look great in a rock garden. It doesn’t grow as much as others, and it also starts flowering at a younger age, so not only does it take up less space, but you’ll also be able to see its beautiful blooms earlier than you might imagine.
How is it supported? What is certain is that its maintenance is not difficult, but to make it even simpler, keep in mind that it is a plant that should not be overwatered, and that it needs well-drained soil so that its roots do not rot. But in addition, it is important that he is paid on a regular basis.
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Origin and characteristics of Cereus jamacaru
Image – Wikimedia/Siam 07
It is a columnar-type cactus endemic to Brazil that reaches a height of 9 meters.. Its body has between 4 and 8 very marked ribs, protected by up to 4 central spines up to 20 centimeters long, and by 5-7 radials which measure 1-1.5 centimeters long.
The flower appears in summer, and is whitish in color. Once pollinated, the ripe fruit is about 10 centimeters long and has reddish skin.
What care do you need?
The Cereus jamacaru, or mandacaru as it is also called, is a plant that only needs basic care to be healthy. But it is important that they know what their needs are, otherwise we could make a mistake and, therefore, lose it. For this reason, we are going to explain everything you need to take into account for your cactus to be healthy:
Location
It is often thought that cacti should be in full sun, and in most cases this is the case, but Do you know what happens if you buy it and leave it in a sunny place? If you never hit it, it will burn, because he hasn’t had a chance to acclimatize. Something similar happens with ourselves, with our skin: if we lie down to tan on a summer day without protection, we will burn, but if, on the contrary, we apply cream, it will be very difficult for us to suffer damage.
Well, so that it does not burn, it is important that we expose it to direct sunlight for a little while at a time for several weeksuntil a time comes when we can leave it there without having to change it anymore.
Ground
Image – Wikimedia/Josenildo Bezerra da Silva
With the land in which it will grow, we must be a little careful, because the roots of this cactus do not support heavy or compact soils.
For him, we advise you to plant it in a pot with a specific substrate for this type of plant (on sale here), or if you want to have it in the garden, make a large planting hole and mix the soil with a substrate such as volcanic clay or perlite in equal parts.
Irrigation
As it does not support the excess of water, we will water the Cereus jamacaru just sometimes. The most advisable thing is to pour water on it when the soil is completely dry.for drought causes no damage as long as it is of short duration.
For this reason, if in doubt you can insert a stick at the bottom, and see if when you extract it it is still clean or if, on the contrary, dirt has adhered to it. In the first case, it will mean that it is already dry, and therefore it is necessary to water it; in the second, you will have to wait a little longer.
Nevertheless, and to give you an idea, it generally needs to be watered twice a week in summer, and once a week the rest of the year.
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So that the Cereus jamacaru can grow well we recommend fertilizing it in spring and summer with a compost or fertilizer, being particularly recommended those that are specific to cacti like this, since these have the nutrients they need to grow healthy.
But yes: it is necessary to follow the instructions for use, so that the roots are not damaged, which would undoubtedly happen if it were paid with a higher dose than that indicated by the manufacturer.
Multiplication
Image – Wikimedia/KENPEI
Mandacaru is a cactus that can be propagated by seed or cuttings. The best time is springas soon as temperatures exceed 18 ºC and there are no more frosts.
This is done as follows:
- Seeds: they should be planted in pots with a cactus substrate, burying them a little so that they do not receive direct sunlight. Then it is watered and left outside, in a place where there is plenty of light. If all goes well, they will germinate in about a month.
- cuttings: to do this, you must cut a piece of stem that measures at least 15 centimeters, and leave it in a dry place, in the shade for a week so that the wound dries. After this time, plant it in a pot with a cactus substrate, burying it about 3-4 centimeters and water. After a few weeks it will begin to produce its own roots.
hardiness
It’s a cactus tolerates cold welleven light frosts down to -2ºC if they are punctual.
What did you think of the Cereus jamacaru?