Espostoa melanostele is an attractive tall, greyish-green columnar cactus with much apical spination and pubescence up to 7 feet (2.1 m) tall, but raised in a pot it will reach up to 10 inches (25 cm) in 10 years. Even at a very young age, the cactus displays an abundance of long woolly spines that cover and hide the body of the plant including sharp white, yellow or red spines up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long. As the cactus matures all the spines become darker.
The stems are erect and columnar and branch at the base to form a clumps. Flowers are rare bell shaped, 5-6 cm long and 5 cm across, scales of the pericarpel tiny, those of the tube larger hairy in the axils. Perianth is white. Tiny-hardly bigger than a grape (less than 5 cm across) greenish-white, yellowish-white to reddish. The fruits are piquant, but tasty and edible.
How to Grow and Care
Several species of Espostoa, are especially popular in cultivation due to their fuzzy white hairy appearance. The plants are typically sold by large commercial growers as up to 12 inches (30 cm) long stems. However, being large columnar species, these plants do not grow nearly as vigorously in pots as they would in the ground.
Espostoa can easy to grow. Need a fertile, well drained soil mix. Water the plants well and allow them to dry before watering again. This species seems to do better with a little more water than most cacti. During the growing season fertilize them monthly with a balanced fertilizer. Espostoa produces noticeable amounts of growth each year if kept well fed and watered throughout the warmest months, particularly if it has been acclimatised to accept full sun. Once this cactus is established it can easily produce 20 cm of growth every year.
Origin: Espostoa melanostele is native to southern Ecuador and Peru.
Hardiness:
Hardiness USDA zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large container filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water the plants well and allow them to dry before watering again. This species seems to do better with a little more water than most cacti.
Propagation
Espostoa can be successfully propagated by both vegetative cuttings and from seed. The seeds are quite easy to germinate and grow. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
The stems are erect and columnar and branch at the base to form a clumps. Flowers are rare bell shaped, 5-6 cm long and 5 cm across, scales of the pericarpel tiny, those of the tube larger hairy in the axils. Perianth is white. Tiny-hardly bigger than a grape (less than 5 cm across) greenish-white, yellowish-white to reddish. The fruits are piquant, but tasty and edible.
- Scientific Name: Espostoa lanata (Kunth) Britton & Rose
- Common Names: Peruvian Old Lady
- Synonyms:Cephalocereus melanostele (basionym), Binghamia melanostele, Cereus melanostele, Espostoa haagei, Haageocereus melanostele, Pseudoespostoa melanostele
- Family: Cactaceae
- Subfamily: Cactoideae
- Tribe: Trichocereeae
- Genus: Espostoa
How to Grow and Care
Several species of Espostoa, are especially popular in cultivation due to their fuzzy white hairy appearance. The plants are typically sold by large commercial growers as up to 12 inches (30 cm) long stems. However, being large columnar species, these plants do not grow nearly as vigorously in pots as they would in the ground.
Espostoa can easy to grow. Need a fertile, well drained soil mix. Water the plants well and allow them to dry before watering again. This species seems to do better with a little more water than most cacti. During the growing season fertilize them monthly with a balanced fertilizer. Espostoa produces noticeable amounts of growth each year if kept well fed and watered throughout the warmest months, particularly if it has been acclimatised to accept full sun. Once this cactus is established it can easily produce 20 cm of growth every year.
Origin: Espostoa melanostele is native to southern Ecuador and Peru.
Hardiness:
Hardiness USDA zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Repotting: Repotting every 2-3 years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large container filled with very porous compost. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water the plants well and allow them to dry before watering again. This species seems to do better with a little more water than most cacti.
Propagation
Espostoa can be successfully propagated by both vegetative cuttings and from seed. The seeds are quite easy to germinate and grow. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
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| source pic: carobnabasta.com |
