The Choya cactus (Cylindropuntia cholla) is a genus of about 20 cacti native to Mexico and the American Southwest. They are primarily shrubby or ground cover cacti, but they can also grow as trees. In this article we teach you how to propagate, grow the choya cactus and its care.
Basic Description
- Botanical name: Cylindropuntia cholla
- Common name: Choya
- Family: cactus
- Height: Up to 1.8 meters
- Sun exposure: completed
- Soil type: sandy, well-drained
- Soil pH: acid, neutral
- Flowering period: spring summer
- Flower color: green, red, pink, yellow, orange
How to Propagate Choya Cacti
Propagating Choya cacti is relatively simple and easy. You can easily start growing choya cacti using stem cuttings, these can be placed directly into the ground to take root. To propagate your Choya cactus, follow these simple steps.
Using pruners or sharp scissors, separate a stem or cactus pad from the bottom of the plant.
Set the fresh stalk aside in a dry, shaded place for 24 hours to let the cut part of the stalk dry out.
Next, prepare a small pot with well-drained sandy potting soil. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Terracotta is ideal for cacti.
Plant the cholla cutting in the ground pressing down on the cut edge until it is fully buried and the cutting can stand on its own, usually 1 to 2 inches is enough.
Place the pot in a place with good direct sunlight, wet the soil once and let it take root on its own.
After 3-4 weeks the roots should start to grow and you should be able to water the cutting for the first time.
Do not soak the soil, water just enough so that the substrate is evenly moist. Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again.
Choya cactus care
Warning: Choya cacti have many long, sharp spines covered in tiny spikes, making them extremely painful and difficult to remove if they become lodged in the skin.
Take care when handling this plant and be sure to store it in a safe place if you have pets or young children in the home.
Water
Choya cacti are extremely drought tolerant and do not need frequent watering. Before you even think about watering it, make sure the soil dries out completely between waterings.
Fertilizer
Choya cacti don’t feed much and don’t need to be fed regularly. If desired, a fertilizer designed for cacti and succulents can be applied once a month from early spring to late summer, but it is not necessary.
Light
Choya cacti need direct sunlight to thrive, and lots of it. Ideally, choose a location that receives between 6 and 7 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Because they need lots of sun, cholla cacti grow best outdoors where they can receive unfiltered sunlight, but they can also be grown indoors.
You just need to make sure your Choya cactus is in a window that gets plenty of sunlight and that the sun’s rays hit the plant directly.
Cut
Pruning isn’t necessary when it comes to caring for a Choya cactus, but you may choose to prune it occasionally to control its size or clean up its appearance. Be sure to wear a thick pair of gardening gloves before you start trimming.
It is best to make the cuts where the cylindrical stems meet, as the stems easily separate from each other at these points.
Usually I
These cacti are very susceptible to root rot and need dry, well-drained soil to prevent it.
Sandy soil is best for these desert dwellers. If you want to grow Choya cacti indoors, choose a potting mix for cacti or succulents, or modify the standard potting soil with lots of river sand and small pebbles to increase drainage.
temperature and humidity
Hot, dry conditions are best for growing Choya cacti. In fact, Cylindropuntia is known as one of the most heat-tolerant cactus species in the Cactaceae family.
That said, some cholla varieties are also extremely cold tolerant if necessary, withstanding temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
However, if possible, it is best to avoid such drastic exposure to cold, as these cacti really thrive in warm temperatures.
Plagues and diseases
For the most part, Choya cacti have few enemies when it comes to common pests and diseases.
However, they are easily susceptible to root rot if grown in constantly moist soil.
Also be on the lookout for mealybugs, which can sometimes protrude from the outside of cacti and lodge in their fleshy stems.
If you see signs of scale insects, simply spray the cactus with one part ethyl alcohol and one part water. Be sure to get it out of direct sunlight before doing so and wait to put it back on until it’s completely dry.
Common Choya Cacti Problems
These cacti are hardy and rarely have any problems. Any problem you notice is usually an indication that something may be wrong.
fallen stems
Thermal shocks, lack of water or mealybug infestation can cause stems to drop.
Some cacti don’t recover well from temperature shocks, so if you think that’s the culprit, you should try to save the plant by propagating any remaining healthy stems.
soft rods
Soft stems on a Choya cactus are not a good sign and usually mean the plant is suffering from root rot.
You have to act quickly to make sure the rot doesn’t spread to the whole plant.
Take a pair of pruners and make a quick cut in the stem above where the rot is. Then, follow the spreading stems to root the rest of your cholla plant in cool soil.
wrinkled stems
Shrunken stems are often a sign of subaquation. Yes, this cactus is drought tolerant, but it still needs water at times.
If it doesn’t recover after a good watering, the roots may have dried up from lack of water, which means you should try propagating a stem from your cactus to save it.
Share it on the networks: