The world of succulents is very large and diverse. These types of plants have become very popular because they are so beautiful and incredibly easy to maintain. For this reason, it is no surprise that more and more people are choosing to grow these precious vegetables to beautify their homes. However, since there are so many different species, it is not useless to know them beforehand to know what the specific care is. Today we are going to introduce you to a very popular cactus called Pilosocereus pachycladus.
If you want to learn more about this vegetable, I recommend that you keep reading. In this article we will explain What is the Pilosocereus pachycladushis appearance and the care he needs. I hope this information is of interest to you! And who knows, you might even want to buy one to decorate your home. Without a doubt, this would be a great option.
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what is it Pilosocereus pachycladus?
When we talk about Pilosocereus pachycladus, we refer to a species of cactus that is part of the family Cactaceae. It is an endemic plant of Brazil, but today it can be found all over the world. It was first described in 1979 by Friedrich Ritter, a German geologist and botanist, who published it in his book “Kakteen in South America(German title that translates to “Cactus in South America”).
Its generic name Pilosocereuscomes from the Greek word “hairy“, which essentially means “hairy”, in combination with the word “cereuswhich is a genus belonging to cacti. One could therefore say that it is a cereus hairy. The second word that makes up the name of this cactus, pachyclad, comes from Latin and means “with thick branches”. As you can see, the name of this plant pretty much describes its appearance: cereus hairy with thick branches.
As we have already mentioned above, This cactus comes from Brazil, where we can find it naturally, especially in the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Minas Gerais, Piauí and Bahia. It normally grows at altitudes between 50 and 1550 meters. This species of succulent can be found in the quartzite outcrops that lie in the center and south of the caatinga. It is also common in rockfield thickets, on scree, and on rocky and sandy substrates. If you have the chance to visit these areas and want to know the flora, it is highly recommended to pass through protected areas, such as the Morro de Chapéu State Park or the Chapada Diamantina National Park, where the there are many specimens of Pilosocereus pachycladus.
Description
Although the name already pretty much explains what this cactus looks like physically, we are going to discuss what it looks like in more detail. Wild, It usually grows in the form of a tree, reaching a height of between two and ten meters. the stems of Pilosocereus pachycladus they grow vertically and are smooth, gray or blue in color, but always with a greenish tone. They usually have a diameter of between five and eleven centimeters. It should be noted that this cactus normally has between five and nineteen transversely grooved ribs near the tips where the shoots are.
As for the spines, the most distinctive feature of cacti, these are initially yellow, but become translucent and gray over time. In general, Pilosocereus pachycladus It has between one and twelve ascending central spines which are usually between one and thirty millimeters long. As for the radial spines, they normally measure between eight and eighteen with a length of between five and fifteen millimeters.
Near the top is the flowering of the shoots, which is very easy to distinguish and includes various ribs. The flowers of this cactus can be very variable. Its length normally varies between four and seven centimeters, while its diameter varies between two and four and a half centimeters. It also has very curious fruits. They are normally spherical and tear on the side. Inside is a magenta-colored pulp.
Care of Pilosocereus pachycladus
Now that we know more about Pilosocereus pachycladuslet’s see what care is needed. You will find that it is very easy to care for, which makes it an ideal species for people with little time and who are new to gardening.
- Irrigation: Since it is a cactus, it can be expected to tolerate drought very well. You need to water a little when the soil is completely dry. During the growth period (spring, summer and autumn), it is best to water once or twice a week. In winter, it is enough to prevent the earth from drying out completely.
- Light: As a good succulent, it is a lover of the sun. For its correct development and growth, it is essential that it receives plenty of direct sunlight. However, it is advisable to protect it a little from the sun for prolonged periods in the middle of summer so as not to damage the plant.
- Temperature: Being a vegetable that grows in semi-desert, tropical and subtropical regions, it is not surprising that it requires somewhat high temperatures, ideally between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius. When the temperature rises above 35 degrees or falls below 10 degrees, the growth of Pilosocereus pachycladus it slows down, even going so far as to begin a latency period.
- Floor: As for the soil, it is preferable that it be fertile, well drained and rich in gravel. The pH should be between six and seven.
- Fertilizer: During the growth period, it is advisable to fertilize once a month. When planting, it is best to use nitrogen, while a fertilizer high in potassium and phosphate is the best option before and after flowering.
- Size: In principle, it is not necessary to prune this plant, unless you want to control its size. What is important is to remove the branches and faded flowers so that they do not waste nutrients and grow optimally.
I hope that with all this information on Pilosocereus pachycladus you are encouraged to grow this spectacular cactus. It looks very cool at home, and as you can see, it does not require very special care.