El San Pedro cactus It is one of the most cultivated cacti in the world, especially in those areas that enjoy a warm climate. Despite the fact that it has quite an important columnar growth, it can be grown for many years in a pot.
Once it reaches adulthood it produces beautiful white flowers that you will not be able to stop admiring. And if that was not enough, their care is very simple, but they will be even more so after reading what I'm going to tell you next.
What are their characteristics?
Echinopsis pachanoi f. crystal
Echinopsis pachanoi is the scientific name of a columnar cactus native to the Andes which was described by Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose, Heimo Friedrich and Gordon Douglas Rowley and published in the International Organization for Succulent Plant Study Bulletin in 1974. For a long time, and even today, its other scientific name is still used: Trichocereus pachanoi. It is popularly called San Pedro cactus, wacchuma, huachuma and aguacolla.
It is characterized by having columnar growth, with cylindrical stems 3 to 7 meters high dark green or glaucous in color with a total of 5 to 14 broad, rounded ribs with whitish areolas. From each one sprout 3-7 very short thorns; in fact, it would not be surprising if they were absent. The flowers are fragrant and nocturnal, and measure 19 to 24cm long by 3-4cm in diameter. Once they are pollinated, the fruit begins to mature, which is oblong, measures 5-6cm long by 3cm wide, and is dark green in color.
What are their cares?
Image from Wikimedia / Lars
The San Pedro Cactus is a very easy plant to care for. We will place it in an area protected from direct sun, in a pot with a substrate that has good drainage. (like the cheek) or in a sandy type soil so that it can grow and have optimal development. Likewise, we must water it little: no more than 2 times a week in summer and every 15-20 days the rest of the year.
If we talk about the subscriber, it is interesting to fertilize it with a specific fertilizer for cacti during the warm months following the instructions specified on the package. This way we will get it to grow somewhat faster (it can grow at a rate of half a meter per year if the conditions are right).
For the rest, we have to know it resists frosts down to -3ºC, but I advise protecting it from hail especially if it is young.
What uses does it have?
Ornamental
Its easy care and fantastic flowers have made it a much loved cactus both for collectors and for those people who, without being enthusiasts of this type of plants, like to have a succulent as special as the Echinopsis pachanoi.
Traditional medicine
The San Pedro It is used to treat nerve, joint, drug addiction and heart disease. But always, before starting a treatment, you must consult your doctor.
Psychoactivity
Its best known use is as a hallucinogenic plant as it contains a high concentration of mescaline. Mescaline is a substance that causes changes in perception, especially color vision, and also creates psychic dependence.
Have you had any doubts? Do not leave them in the inkwell. Question. 🙂
hello its medicinal use, how do you deal with it?
Hello Maria Alarcon.
Sorry, I don't know how to answer that question 🙁
A greeting.
I have a question, they only bloom once and at the end of their life cycle? I read that in an article and my cactus bloomed three days ago, it really is spectacular. It measures 2,2 meters.
Hi Jonn,
no, do not worry. When cacti begin to bloom, they do so for the rest of their lives once a year.
Regards!
It is not addictive.
It is used to treat addictions.
In Europe there are psychiatrists who use it in treatments and thousands of people grateful for the benefits of this plant.
Please cite sources for review.