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Espostoa lanata[es - POS - toh - uh Pelican State - NA - tuh ] is a columnar type cactus belonging to the genus Espostoa and the family Cactaceae .
The genus name honors Peruvian botanist Nicolas E. Esposto . The specific epithet , lanata , mean woolly .
The Cactus Snowball Old Man has a woolly coat and adapts well to high altitudes
This cactus hails from Peru and Ecuador and is also have sex as :
Espostoa Lanata Peruvian Old Man Cactus is quite like to another columniform cactus have a go at it as Cephalocereus senilis – aka theOld Man Cactus careinstructions for these two case of cactus are interchangeable .
The main difference between these two cacti is that Peruvian Old Man has acute spines or thorns and the Old Man of Mexico does not .
Espostoa Lanata Care
Size & Growth
When young , this cactus develop very rapidly . When it progress to two years of eld , growth slows quite a piece .
While it is still young , Woolish Espostoa grow as a strictly columniform plant . As it matures , it may begin to fork out .
alfresco , Peruvian Old Man Cactus grows to be about 8 ” inches in diam and as gamy as 23 ’ feet improbable .
If kept indoors , growth will naturally be somewhat see .
Even so , if you get one of these cacti to keep as a houseplant you may want to have a backup plan in place in face it outgrow your circumstance .
Flowering & Fragrance
Mature plants ( at least two geezerhood sure-enough ) produce nocturnal flowers in dark glasses of white , lavender and purple in the late spring and early summer .
The flowers are large and showy and can be a couple of column inch across .
When the works becomes very mature , it may discontinue make flowers if keep indoors .
Outdoor plant will continue to farm smartly and blossom even in maturity date .
relate : How To produce And Care For San Pedro Cactus
Foliage
Peruvian old valet cactus is covered by a thick , woolly-headed pelage of white hair . This outer cover is so soft that the great unwashed in Peru have actually used it as a filling for pillow .
Underneath its delicate , fluffy coat , this cactus has between 18 and 25 ribs , each bearing sharp thorns .
Light & Temperature
Lighting should be bright in the wintertime and quite sunny throughout the summertime . As a desert denizen , this cactus does well in full sun exposure .
These cacti can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 ° degrees Fahrenheit . However , they will do well if protected from freezing .
Watering & Feeding
The flora should be water well during the hot month of the summer , but leave mint of metre for the soil to dry out out thoroughly between watering . Acactus fertilizerused monthly is appreciate . During the wintertime , your cactus should be kept dry .
Soil & Transplanting
Cotton ball cactus does best when celebrate in well - draining , prolific soil . It can do well with a pH degree vagabond from 6.1 to 7.8 .
If you ’re keeping your Peruvian Old Man as a houseplant , use a combining of perlite and peat moss as your potting mass medium , here is anothercactus land recipe .
Alternately , you could use a packaged cactus territory mix .
Be sure to utilise an unglazed pot with sizeable drain to prevent problems with root rot .
Grooming & Maintenance
Pruning is not necessary , but you may wish to cautiously comb the Old Man ’s furry coat from time - to - time .
How To Propagate Espostoa Lanata
This cactus may be grow from seed direct sow into the filth immediately following the last rime .
Alternately , it can easy be originate from cuttings .
As with all cacti , remember to allow the cut aerofoil to dry out for a few days before planting it in perlite or sand .
Avoid exposing the cutting to soil until it has commence to recrudesce roots .
Keep your cutting in a lovesome , Laputan positioning with bright , indirect lighting until it has root .
Once you start to see newfangled increment , repot the flora into the cactus intermixture and treat it as a mature works .
Peruvian Old Man Cactus Pests or Diseases
Because of its thickset coat , the Snowball Old Man Cactus may incline to hold pest such as scale and mealybug .
The best manner to avoid problems with this is to keep the cactus intelligent by avoiding overwatering .
Examine the plant life periodically to be certain there are no problems skulk under its luxuriant coating .
Is Snowball Cactus Considered Toxic or Poisonous to People, Kids, Pets?
Espostoa lanata is not toxic , but it can be rather dangerous due to its hidden spine .
Is Espostoa Cactus Considered Invasive?
Espostoa lanata is not considered invasive .
Uses For Peruvian Snowball Old Man
This drought - broad cactus is an excellent pick for xeriscaping . With its unusual looks and telling height , it makes a very all right specimen works .
Be sure to give it a stain off the beat way of life to head off injuries due to inadvertent touch .
Peruvian Old Man Cactus grows especially well outdoors in the southwestern United States .
It can also be kept as a houseplant and gain an especially good add-on to a solarium or glasshouse .
Be sure to provide good zephyr circulation indoors to prevent problems with fungous diseases .
