Peanut cactus care is simple and rewarding.
These beautiful cacti produce flowers with a wide variety of shapes and colors.
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Additionally, Echinopsis chamaecereus (the peanut cactus) is fast-growing and extremely hardy, making them perfect plants for both beginners and experts alike.
Table of Contents:
Quick Care Infographic
Description
Temperature Requirements
Light Requirements
Water Requirements
Soil Type
Fertilizing
General Maintenance
Propagation Methods
Quick Care Infographic:
Continue reading to learn more about this cactus or visit our webpage at Peanut Cactus Care Infographic for a quick summary of basic care needs.
Peanut Cactus Description:
The peanut cactus is a low-growing, clustering type of cactus. It often grows in a mat-like pattern with sprawling branches that travel across the ground.
The cacti are native to South America, but they are usually specifically found in groups throughout Argentina. However, their flowers, general appearance, and hardiness have led them to become a favorite houseplant across the world.
Most interestingly, Echinopsis has unique branches that look like fingers or peanuts, which is where this stunning little cactus gets its name.
Like most cacti and succulents they have spines that grow out from nodes, so its best to keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
(If you’re already interested in this cactus and don’t have one yet, consider purchasing from Succulent Box through Amazon)
Flowers:
The peanut cactus is well known because of its bright colored and strikingly beautiful flowers.
Their flowers are tubular, usually appearing as red, yellow, orange, pink, white, or even purple.
During summer the cactus flowers for about a month. The flowers will only last a few days, but they continue to grow back for a couple of weeks with proper care.
Also, they will produce multiple flowers at once during a flowering session.
If their needs are met they will continue to produce flowers every year.
Additionally, peanut cacti may not flower if nighttime temperatures fall below 65°F (18°C). Try bringing them indoors and leaving them near a window to promote flower development during the summer.
Appearance:
Pictured: A peanut cactus following flower season. The little white tufts are remnants of flowers. Thankfully, the white tufts will fall off naturally or can be gently brushed off.
Peanut Cactus Temperature Requirements:
Peanut cacti thrive in temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C-29°C).
However, they can survive in temperatures as low as 45°F (7°C) for a short period of time.
On days warmer than 85°F (29°C), move peanut cacti out of the sun and into a shady area. This prevents them from getting sunburn or drying out.
Additionally, never allow a peanut cactus to freeze. They will not tolerate frost and should be taken inside on nights that fall to 40°F (4.5°C) or below.
The cactus can permanently remain outside in agricultural zones 10-11.
Make sure they receive adequate water all year, as high temperatures quickly dry them out.
Never keep peanut cacti in draft areas. In fact, no plant should ever be kept in draft/windy areas because it causes leaves and branches to dry out.
Cold drafts can cause plants to freeze if sustained for too long.
Light Requirements:
Proper peanut cactus care requires proper lighting. However, lighting requirements will change based on location.
As a general rule, peanut cacti should be given 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day. The rest of the day they should receive bright, indirect sunlight.
A south-facing window will provide a peanut cactus with adequate lighting to survive.
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If using fluorescent or grow lights, they should remain on for at least 12 hours a day. To induce flowering, leave lights on for 14-18 hours and increase watering.
In places such as southern California, Utah, and Texas, peanut cacti should receive shade in the afternoon. This will help prevent the hot sun from drying out the plants.
Leggy Cacti and Solutions:
Generally, if a peanut cactus is not receiving enough sunlight, it will start to stretch out and become “leggy”.
Its finger-like branches will grow long and skinny as they search for light.
If a peanut cactus (or any cactus/succulent) begins to grow leggy, it is usually fixed by moving it to a brighter location.
Also, try turning on a nearby light during mornings or evenings when no sunlight is available.
However, there are other causes for leggy succulents to develop.
Visit our webpage that goes over the 5 major causes for stretched out succulents.
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Find out quick remedies to prevent stretched out plants from becoming worse and avoid the problem altogether.
Peanut Cactus Water Requirements:
Similar to other cacti, the peanut cactus does not need a lot of water. As a matter of fact, they can survive extended periods of drought in the wild.
Peanut cacti should be watered when the top 1-2 inches (3-5 centimeters) of the soil is dry. This equates to a fairly deep watering once every 2 weeks or so.
During the winter, the plants need far less water. Reducing watering to about once every month or so as the cacti go dormant for a few months.
Once spring arrives, slowly increase watering back to once every 2 weeks.
If the cactus begins to turn mushy, then it is receiving too much water. Reducing watering frequency and amount immediately or the plant will start to fall apart.
Dry cactuses will become skinny and feel rough. Their spines may also start to fall off. If this happens, slowly increase the frequency and amount of water given.
Soil Type:
Peanut cacti prefer well-draining soils that are generally nutrient-poor.
Soils that hold too much water are dangerous for this plant because they can cause roots to rot or branches to become mushy.
Cactus and citrus potting mixes are best. They provide the required nutrients and environment while also having great drainage.
Also, potting soils mixed with perlite, sand, peat moss, or fine gravel are great alternatives. These soils let water drain and are harsh enough for peanut cacti to thrive.
plantcaretoday.com has great tips on soil types and transplanting.
Fertilizing:
Great peanut cactus care starts with good fertilizing habits. Peanut cacti do not need fertilizer to survive, however, providing cacti with fertilizer promotes flower development and branch growth.
Use a balanced fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium solution diluted in water.
Follow the directions on the product you chose in order to make a proper fertilizer mixture.
Give peanut cacti fertilizer once a month during their growing season (fertilizer them 3 times total during the spring).
This will provide the cactus with plenty of energy for producing flowers in the summer.
General Maintenance:
The peanut cactus, similar to most other succulents and cacti, is slow growing and requires little maintenance.
However, it is important to recognize that this type of cactus needs repotted about once every other year.
The plant may also become leggy or stretched out over time, which is fixable if caught early.
Peanut Cactus Potting Tips:
Try adding coarse gravel or rocks to the bottom of pots to help with drainage. This will help prevent standing water that causes root rot, and it helps to keep the soil oxygenated.
Additionally, adding rocks to the bottom of pots helps to prevent soil from falling out of drainage holes; however, there will still be enough room for water to escape.
Learn more potting tips and design techniques at our other webpage:
Succulent Aesthetic and Garden Design
Solutions to a Leggy Cactus:
Generally, if a peanut cactus is not receiving enough sunlight, it will start to stretch out and become “leggy”.
Its finger-like branches will grow long and skinny as they search for light.
If a peanut cactus (or any cactus/succulent) begins to grow leggy, it is usually fixed by moving it to a brighter location.
Also, try turning on a nearby light during mornings or evenings when no sunlight is available.
However, there are other causes for leggy succulents to develop.
Visit our webpage that goes over the 5 major causes for stretched out succulents.
Xem thêm : Nutritional Facts of Cream Of Mushroom Soup by Tarla Dalal
Find out quick remedies to prevent stretched out plants from becoming worse and avoid the problem altogether.
Peanut Cactus Propagation:
Peanut cactus care is easy and so is propagation! These cacti multiply at an astonishing rate because of their low-growing roots and clumping patterns.
There are three major forms of producing new plants, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These include:
- Propagation by Branch
- Propagation by Base
- Germination From Seed
Propagation by Branch:
Growing a new cactus from branches is the easiest and most successful form of propagation.
Simply slice off a branch a few inches or centimeters in length with a sterile tool to prevent infection.
Let the cutting sit on a dish or towel in a spot with indirect sunlight for at least 4 days to let the wound callus over.
Calluses help cuttings retain water and prevent infection, dramatically increasing the chance of successful propagation.
Finally, gently place the cutting into the soil. Make sure it’s deep enough so that it can develop roots.
Care for the cutting like any other cactus and in a few weeks, new roots will grow. After a little while, the new plant will develop its own branches as it grows!
In the picture above, the two branches in front actually broke off from the center of the cactus.
However, planting them directly in the soil and keeping them moist caused them to develop roots.
As of now they are growing new buds.
Propagation by Base:
Growing new a peanut cactus from a base is similar to propagation by branch.
Every peanut cactus has a central base of roots that branches grow from. The root ball can be carefully divided in half to start two independent colonies.
Make sure the cactus is big enough and has close to a dozen branches before dividing the base. This ensures the separated cacti have enough branches to store water and photosynthesize.
The divided plants can be planted in separate pots and cared for as normal. Avoid cutting too many branches away because it creates open wounds that are susceptible to rotting.
Growing From Seed:
Germinating cacti from seed aren’t recommended, but the process can produce new plants.
Cacti produced via seed grow extremely slow, taking years to reach maturity and grow at a normal rate.
Also, young cacti are finicky and wilt under the slightest change in light or water.
Some strains of peanut cacti are claimed to be incapable of producing viable seeds that germinate.
When Echinopsis chamaecereus (the original peanut cactus) was cultivated, it was presumed sterile and reproduced by cuttings.
However, new strains of peanut cacti have found their way around the world and can produce viable seeds.
Unfortunately, growing any type of cacti from seed is difficult and time-consuming.
That being said, here’s a quick overview of the process:
First, find a pot with good drainage and use well-draining cactus soil.
Carefully place the seeds into the soil and sprinkle a thin layer of dirt over the seeds. Keep the seeds moist but never soaked.
After a few weeks, the seeds should begin to germinate. Keep in mind that cactus germination rates aren’t always high.
Reduce watering frequency after a few more weeks once the cacti begin to develop spikes and a rounded shape.
Then, take care of the tiny plants like any other cactus!
Gardenersworld.com has an in-depth step-by-step guide on growing cacti from seeds.
Updates:
Peanut cacti tend to grow faster than most other species. Also, they flower much more often too.
As a result, we at Sun Spot Nursery have used these opportunities to create an update page for our peanut cacti.
Updates will include occasional pictures of flowers and new growth, as well as new tips.
Visit our Peanut Cactus Update log for more.
(Remember to consider ordering one of these cool cacti online!)
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