Read compact information about growth, flowering, fruits and Cereus species in the commented columnar cactus profile. How to properly plant and care for a columnar cactus.
What are the characteristics of columnar cacti (Cereus)?
Columnar cacti (Cereus) are tree-shaped succulents that can grow 1.5 to 10 meters high. They have straight trunks and cylindrical shoots with 4 to 10 ribs. Their flowering period is between June and September; they form funnel-shaped, mostly nocturnal flowers, followed by juicy berries.
Profile
- Scientific name: Cereus
- Genus: 35 to 40 species
- Family: Cactaceae
- Origin: South America
- Growth type: Succulent
- Growth: tree-shaped
- Growth height: 1.50 m to 10 m
- Flower: funnel-shaped
- Flowering period: June to September
- Fruit: Berry
- Winter hardiness: not hardy
- Use: houseplant, summer balcony
Growth
The botanical genus name is derived from the Latin name cera for candle and refers to the straight growth of most Cereus species. The popular name columnar cactus is just as appropriate, based on the specific growth habit of the South American cactus family. Characteristic features of Cereus growth in brief:
- Growth forms: tightly upright, single to multi-stemmed, rarely shrubby
- Special feature: trunk and cylindrical shoots with 4 to 10 ribs
- Growth height at the natural location: 10 m to 15 m
- Growth height as a houseplant: 1.50 m to 4.0 m
- Growth rate: within 6 years to 100 cm high and 20 cm wide
Columnar cacti boast a variable dress of thorns. Numerous gray or black needle-like thorns can often be seen on the gray-green epidermis. The thorns usually gather in groups with a particularly long central thorn.
Bloom
If a columnar cactus is given the right care, the monumental succulent will put on its first blooms after a few years. Night owls among indoor gardeners can admire these flowers:
- Flowering time: June to September from late evening to early morning
- Flower size: 12 cm to 25 cm, rarely up to 35 cm long
- Flower colors: white to cream-colored, sometimes yellow or pink, greenish or reddish bracts
- Special feature: intense, sweet scent
The starting points for the magnificent flowers are woolly, felty areoles. These sit on the ribs and are usually surrounded by short thorns.
Fruits
With its nightly blooms, a columnar cactus attracts visits from bats. Due to the lack of these winged pollinators in Central European indoor cultivation, Cereus species only occasionally bear fruit with these characteristics:
- Fruit size: 4 cm to 6 cm in diameter
- Fruit color: green, yellow or red with white flesh
- Fruit properties: juicy, edible
The juicy pulp contains numerous black seeds that are not suitable for consumption.
Species
The columnar cactus genus has more than 30 species with individual characteristics. The following table presents the most beautiful Cereus species for cultivation as houseplants:
| Cereus species | Cereus peruvianus (repandus) | Cereus jamacaru | Cereus forbesii (validus) | Cereus aethiopis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synonym | Rock cactus | Corkscrew Cactus | Wax Torch Cactus | Sunburn Cactus |
| Growth habit | single-stemmed, straight | single-stemmed, spirally twisted | shrubby | cylindrical |
| Body color | gray-green | blue frosted | blue-green, later light green | dark blue to dark green |
| Number of ribs | 9-10 | 4-6 (10) | 4-8 | 7-8 |
| flower size | 12 to 15 cm long | 20 to 25 cm long | 15 to 25 cm long | 20 cm to 25 cm long |
| Flower color | white with red tips | green outside, white inside | white-red | light pink |
| Speciality | most popular columnar cactus | 10 cm long thorns | brown, 16 cm long thorns | black, 2 cm long thorns |
Planting columnar cactus
The quickest way to get your own columnar cactus is to buy it from a garden center. If a cactus lover is part of your gardening circle of friends, you can get a cutting in the spring for a beautiful Cereus for free. You can read how to skillfully propagate a columnar cactus and plant it correctly here:
Propagate by cuttings
The vegetative propagation of a Cereus through cuttings has various advantages. Offshoots root quickly, retain the characteristics of their mother plant and usually flower within two to three years. We recommend a disinfected, sharp knife or scalpel as a cutting tool. You should only come into close contact with a prickly columnar cactus with thorn-proof gloves. How to propagate a Cereus successfully:
- In March, cut a 2-year-old head cutting with a minimum length of 10 cm.
- Cut the cutting conically at the base.
- Sprinkle the cut with charcoal powder.
- Let it dry for a few days.
- Plant cuttings in a pot with sand, lava granules or coconut soil.
The correct planting depth is one third of the cutting height. Press down on the substrate and place the offshoot in a partially shaded, warm window spot. A cactus cutting is watered for the first time after about 5 days.
Sowing seeds
For cactus lovers with sensitivity and an epic amount of patience, propagation by sowing is an option. You can see in detail how to sow columnar cactus seeds correctly in the following video:
Video: Professional cactus gardener Ulrich Haage explains how to sow cactus seeds
Substrate
The perfect cactus soil does not compact, but is airy and loose, offers reliable water storage and stable support. Over time, every indoor gardener develops his or her own recipe. Beginners plant their first columnar cactus in a mixture of 60 percent succulent soil, 20 percent expanded clay, 10 percent sand and 10 percent leaf compost. If the young Cereus has already reached maturity, swap a third of the succulent soil for garden soil for more stability.
Plants
The best planting tips for a columnar cactus to read:
- The optimal pot is deep, has a hole in the bottom and has a diameter that corresponds to a quarter (at least a sixth) of the plant height.
- Thorn-proof gloves protect against painful injuries.
- A 2 cm to 3 cm high drainage made of sand, expanded clay or lava granules prevents waterlogging.
- Plant the columnar cactus as deep as before in the cultivation or purchase container.
- Do not water for the first three to five days.
Location
These are the ideal conditions for a columnar cactus in top form:
- Sunny and warm (minimum temperature 10° Celsius).
- From May to September outside in full sun and protected from rain.
- From October to April, bright and cool indoors at 10° to 12° Celsius.
- Alternatively: all year round as a houseplant on the south side.
Excursus
Cactus trio for beginners
A prickly trio is the perfect start to your private cactus collection. The majestic columnar cactus (Cereus peruvianus) is in charge. The man-sized magnificent guy looks graciously down on the noble gold cactus (Notocactus leninghausii) with a growth height of 60 cm to 100 cm suitable for indoor use. When they are joined by the spherical bird's nest cactus (Dolichothele camptotricha) with a petite 10 cm height, three of the easiest cactus species mark the beginning of a lifelong passion for collecting.
Care for columnar cactus
Its impressive growth combines a Cereus with modest requirements. It's that easy to master columnar cactus care:
Pouring
The season determines the water requirement. Water a columnar cactus regularly from May to September when the soil is noticeably dry. Please use rainwater or softened tap water as irrigation water. In winter, rarely if ever water an adult Cereus.
Fertilize
In the period from May to September, your columnar cactus benefits from a supplementary supply of nutrients. Add a liquid cactus fertilizer (€7.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water once a month. Before and after, water with a little clear water.
Wintering
How a columnar cactus overcomes the delicate winter dormancy has already been discussed several times in these instructions. All important premises in a short version for reading:
- Preparation phase: water more sparingly from the beginning of September, stop fertilizing from mid-September.
- Columnar cactus overwinter bright and cool from October to April.
- In winter, do not allow the substrate to dry out completely.
After clearing out, an acclimatization phase is recommended. Place the columnar cactus in a partially shaded, warm place for 14 days before it moves to its full sun summer location.
Shorten
You do not need to cut Cereus species. If necessary, you can shorten a columnar cactus that has grown too large. The best time is at the end of winter rest. A tree saw may be necessary to cut back old, woody shoots. Dust the cuts with charcoal ash or rock dust.
Repotting
Columnar cacti are among the growth rockets among the cactus plants. For this reason, repot the magnificent guy once a year. For older specimens, the repotting interval is extended to three to four years. A good date is after moving out of the cool winter quarters. Please do not repot a flowering columnar cactus, otherwise it will shed its beautiful flowers indignantly.
Popular varieties
The following overview presents the following overview of representative Cereus varieties for care as houseplants:
Cereus peruvianus monstruosus: popular columnar cactus with orange-red-brown thorns, sparsely fissured growth, height 1, 50 m to 3 m.
Nana (Cereus peruvianus monstrosus): compact rock cactus, multi-armed, humped, up to 200 cm tall.
Cereus peruvianus var.tortuosus: beautiful collector's item with spiral-twisted shoots on a short, straight trunk, growth height up to 4 m.
Cristata (Cereus peruvianus var. monstruosus): bizarre, strongly fissured premium variety with a few, light brown thorns, growth height up to 3 m.
Spiralis (Cereus jamacaru): corkscrew cactus suitable for indoor use with blue-green body, growth height 3 m to 3, 50 m.
FAQ
Is the columnar cactus hardy?
No, the columnar cactus comes from the desert regions of South America. With a minimum temperature of 10° Celsius, a Cereus cactus cannot tolerate frost. Just a few hours at freezing point will reliably bring down the monumental cactus. However, the temperature scale is open towards the top.
How to make a columnar cactus bloom?
From a height of 60 to 80 centimeters, a columnar cactus is large enough for its first flowering period. A bright, cool and dry winter at 10° Celsius is beneficial for its willingness to bloom. If you clear out a Cereus, a lukewarm shower will awaken its floral spirit and make the cactus happy to bloom.
When can you put out a columnar cactus?
If the temperatures hover above 10° Celsius at night in spring, you can put a columnar cactus outside. In regions with mild winters, the time window opens in April. It is important to note that there is an acclimatization phase in partial shade. If a cactus abruptly moves from its winter quarters to a location in full sun on a balcony or terrace, severe sunburn is inevitable.
