Chamaecereus sylvestrii
The peanut cactus , Chamaecereus sylvestrii(syn . Echinopsis chamaecereusandLobivia sylvestrii ) , is a low - profile , matte - forming South American cactus with lily - similar , fragrant , ruby-red - hued blossoms .
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It is suitable for outdoor culture in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11 and makes an attractive , loose - care houseplant .
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to purchase
Propagation
Pests and Disease
C. sylvestriihas fleshy , finger - comparable stem covered in vertical newspaper column of brusque spines .
They are small and peanut - the likes of when unripe but uprise longer , sprawling and winding as they maturate . Mature tiptop are three to four column inch with a ranch of 12 to 24 inches .
Peanut cactus is aboriginal to mountainous Argentinian regions .
plebeian name(s):Peanut cactus
Plant character : Cactus
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):10 - 11 ( outdoors )
Native to : South America
prime sentence / time of year : Spring , summer
Exposure : Full Lord’s Day , brilliant indirect light
Soil eccentric : Sandy loam , succulent pot grime
Soil pH:6.0 - 7.0 , slightly acidulous to neutral
Soil Drainage : Well - draining
suppurate size:12 - 24 in wide x 3 - 4 inches tall
Best uses : Beds , container , flat coat cover , houseplant , window box , xeriscape
Taxonomy
guild : Chenopodiales
Family : Cactaceae
Genus : Chamaecereus
mintage : Sylvestrii
It has undergone several reclassifications since Italian - Argentinian botanist Carlo Luigi Spegazzini first identify it asCereus silvestriiat the origin of the 20th century .
In addition to the primary metal money , there are two of course occurring variation , C. sylvestriif.cristataandC. sylvestriivar.giganteus , the latter with crested stem resembling wavy , flattenedcockscomb flowers ( Celosiaspp . ) .
translate on to learn how to grow peanut cactus outdoors and indoors .
How to Grow Peanut Cactus
By cactus monetary standard , C. sylvestriiis one of the fast growers , adding a few in a twelvemonth .
It ’s beneficial to graft seedlings , divisions , or greenhouse stock in early spring when growth is active , rather than during dormancy .
Light
Full sun is best for bloom , but industrial plant also put up part shadowiness , especially in raging clime .
Houseplants thrive in burnished , indirect sunlight , about three pes from a south- or east - facing windowpane .
Temperature
The ideal temperature orbit for farm peanut cactus is 50 to 80 ° F with downhearted humidity .
nerveless temperatures during quiescency and cool nights at the kickoff of the growing time of year trigger late spring to early summertime blooming .
Soil
If growing in the garden , promiscuous , sandlike loam with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal .
Such non - compacting soil allows for sizeable ascendant development , and sharp drainage inhibits rotting .
Indoor gardener should opt a substratum that contain about 50 percent organic matter and 50 percent gritty inorganic matter .
You canmake your own succulent and cactus soilor bribe a commercial-grade product like Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix .
Hoffman Organic Soil Mix
This potting admixture contains compost , limestone to order pH , peat moss , and sand for a loose , mettlesome , well - draining mix , idealistic for cacti and succulents .
Hoffman Organic Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix isavailable from Hoffman via Amazon .
Watering
Cacti have shallow roots , so provide water when the top few inches of stain are wry .
In - primer coat cacti may involve supplemental weewee once a month , depending upon rainfall and temperature .
If the top two to three inches of soil are dusty and the temperature zoom , surcharge the dry land around the plant , aiming the hose at the soil and not the stems .
For potted specimen , apply the “ soak and dry ” method , letting a container dry completely before douse the filth . Use a wet metre to guide on you .
Once established , C. sylvestriiare drouth - broad .
Reduce lacrimation in the fall and winter , lightly moistening the grime every month . In early bound , resume the dry and inebriate method acting .
Fertilizing
Peanut cacti do n’t need fertiliser to hold out , but many growers enforce it once or doubly during the growing time of year to advance blooming .
debar overfertilizing , as it may bite tender roots .
For in - earth specimen , fertilise in the spring when the first new growth appears and again about eight weeks subsequently .
Use a balanced granular , water - soluble intersection and urine now after app . A merchandise with a N ( N ) , phosphorus ( P ) , potassium ( K ) proportion of 4 - 10 - 10 is sufficient .
Lilly Miller Bulb and Bloom Food is a slow - discharge product that containsbone mealfor strong roots and has an NPK ratio of 4 - 10 - 10 .
Lilly Miller Bulb and Bloom Food
The humbled nitrogen and high phosphorus and potassium promote florescence .
Lilly Miller Bulb and Bloom Food isavailable via Amazon .
For potted specimen indoors and out , employ liquid houseplant food for thought dilute to half - persuasiveness in early spring and apply again eight weeks later .
Schultz Cactus Plus provide essential food to succulent species . It has an NPK ratio of 2 - 7 - 7 .
Schultz Liquid Plant Food
This ware isavailable via Amazon .
Repotting
Repot container - grown plants every two to three years to replenish the grow medium .
Go up a passel size if the roots start to protrude through the drain kettle of fish .
You are more likely to obtain peanut cactus seed in a admixture than box severally .
Gardeners in Zones 10 and 11 may find plants in blood at local nurseries , and growers outside this region can source bare roots online .
Note that they are often sell under the previous botanic name , Echinopsis chamaecereus .
Peanut Cactus
Three- to five - inch marginal root starter plants areavailable from Crazy H Cactus via Amazon .
Upon receipt , place starter plants in case-by-case three - in slew filled with well - enfeeble potting mix . Water until it drip from the drainage holes . Do n’t water again until the good deal dry out .
Modern growth stand for the specimen is ready to transplant to terra cotta plenty or the garden as discuss in the propagation and growing section above .
Peanut Cactus Propagation
you could come out your own peanut cactus from seed , offsets , or buy a potted plant from the nursery .
Let ’s talk about each .
From Seed
Cacti pop from cum are the slowest to senesce . Some take more than a class to display placeable species traits .
Because potted industrial plant are readily available and it ’s gentle to divide offset pups , starting from ejaculate is the least suitable propagation method .
However , it can be fascinating to equate generation methods and naturalize patience in the process if you aregardening with children .
When the finger - like prow occupy the grunge surface area and/or roots protrude from the bottom of the container , transplant them to single four- to six - inch vas or garden soil , as discuss below in the transplanting section .
Dividing Offsets
Dividing peanut cactus is easy . If you have a plant with multiple stems , you may separate one or more of these to create new specimens .
augury of new fore emergence signify a successful partition transplant .
Transplanting
Whether you go to a garden center and buy a potted industrial plant or receive a bare - ancestor specimen by post , you ’ll want to graft it to the garden or a lasting container as shortly as possible .
The same instructions put on to seedlings that outgrow their starter lot and set-back that have root .
To transfer into a container , select one made from porous ceramic , like terra cotta , for optimum air flow and to allow for excess moisture vapor .
The size of it should be about two inch all-embracing than the plant and two inches rich than the base . Avoid using a great container that may do the excess soil to stay wet too long and promote waste .
Make certain that the container has adequate drainage holes .
Remove the peanut cactus from its glasshouse pot and set it into the new container at the same profundity as it was previously . Backfill with potting mix .
pack the soil and do not irrigate or feed at this time .
Space plants 12 to 24 inch apart to admit mature dimensions without overcrowding . Ample air flow aids in inhibiting pests and pathogens .
Now , let ’s consider the cultural requirements for in - ground and potted specimen .
Managing Pests and Disease
While this mintage is not particularly prone to problems with pests or disease , there are some to be familiar with .
Houseplants are more vulnerable to infestation than outdoor specimens because there are no natural predators indoors and grass are more likely to become oversaturated than ground stain .
Healthy plants are least vulnerable to pest and disease . ply adequate sunlight and avoid moisture stress from over- or underwatering .
Insects
pestis that may fertilize on these works include :
These sapsucker extract juices , leaving flora dehydrate and disfigured .
See ourguide to control 11 cactus pestsfor direction particular .
Disease
The most probable disease to afflict your peanut cactus is rotting fromFusariumand / orNeocosmosporapathogens that proliferate in oversaturated conditions .
Telltale signs are subdued prow and collapsed , malodorous , despicable roots .
Keep organic fungicidal , insecticidal , and miticidal neem oil on paw to treat sapsucking cuss and fungous pathogens .
Neem oil colour is derived from the fruit of the neem Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . utilize it as a preventative beat or treatment app for a host of pest and disease . mention that it has a strong garlic - like odor .
Bonide Neem Oil
Bonide ® Neem Oil isavailable from Arbico Organics . prefer a ready - to - sprayer quart , ready - to - spray gallon , or dry pint concentrate .
With pests and disease addressed , allow ’s hash out the best placements for this low - visibility , sprawl species .
Best Uses for Peanut Cactus
In - ground outdoor peanut cacti are well - suited tolow - body of water xeriscapebeds and mete where they provide a nectar source for bee and other beneficial pollinator in a water - wise environment .
permit them sprawl as a ground cover or insert them between the stones of a rock garden .
you may exhibit in outdoor container , in window boxes , orhanging planterswith the stems creeping down for vertical interestingness .
Indoors , enjoy pot specimen in localization about three understructure from south- or E - facing windows where they can bask in bright , indirect sun .
A Cactus with Character
With its meandering stems and bold ruby prime , peanut cactus will certainly be comment in outflow - to - summer landscapes or home interior decoration .
Provide full sun or bright indirect sunshine and fertilise double during the growing time of year to get the most out of this well-situated - care , water - impudent succulent species .
If you ground this clause informative and desire toincrease your noesis of cacti and other succulents , we recommend the following articles next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photos via Arbico Organics , Crazy H Cactus , Hoffman , Lily Miller , and Schultz . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .
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