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TheTotem Pole Cactus – Lophocereus schottii var . atrocious ( lof - oh - KER - ee - us SHOT - ee - middle ) is a perennial member of the plant family Cactaceae . It acclaim from the desert orbit of Baja , California , roam into Mexico . There are also some in limited areas of Arizona .
The plants ’ genus name , Lophocereus , is Hellenic and means “ crest cactus ” or “ flashlight ” . Schottii , refer to German 19th century naturalist Arthur Carl Victor Schott . The variation name , monstrous , refers to the industrial plant ’ large and strange growth habit .
Foto.Toch-DepositPhotos
Lophocereus schottii var Monstrosus goes by the synonym :
Common Names include :
Many of the common name of Schottii Monstrosus amount from the fact that the bumpy surface of the cactus give the show of many faces .
In the wild , Totem pole cactus look very shell and battered due to exposure to the elements . When kept in a sheltered garden or indoor place setting , they can be quite attractive .
Totem Pole Cactus Care
Totem Pole Cactus , Monstrous Form
Totem Pole Size & Growth
In the wild , the totem rod cactus can reach a acme and gap of 15 ’ feet tall and wide .
Schottii monstrosus is a slow raise cactus . When grown as a potted houseplant , you could command the flora size of it by the size of it of the pot .
This trunkless cactus farm in tall columns which tend to branch out like a candelabrum . The waxy stems can develop to be 15′ understructure high-pitched . Each stem has between 5 and 9 ribs which are spaced widely .
At the tip of each grandiloquent , fledged stem , you will find approximately 20 long , gray bristle . Younger stem have 5 shorter , cone - shaped spines .
Flowering & Fragrance
The sterile flowers may grow to be a pair of inches long . The nocturnal bloom of youth are pale greenish white on the outside and pale pinkish white on the interior with an unpleasant odour . They do not set seed but may bring about edible crimson fruits .
Light & Temperature
Totem Pole Cactus can tolerate a great deal of lineal sun and high temperatures . It can not tolerate long stop of cold weather . It can survive short spells of below - zero temperatures .
The flora is wintertime hardy to 25 ° grade Fahrenheit . It originate out of doors in a lush cactus garden year round in USDA hardiness zones 9 - 11 .
Pachycereus Schottii Watering & Feeding
Totem pole cactus plants are drought patient of when grown in magnanimous group . This growth configuration conserves water system well .
When growing as a potted plant life , allow the potting mix to dry all between waterings . Water from beneath using rainwater , dribble weewee , or bottled water .
In mid - saltation , feed with a diluted all - use plant food or one explicate for cactus and succulents .
Soil & Transplanting
Pachycereus schottii monstrosus cactus thrives in open , gravelly plains landscape painting . It also does well on a jolting hillside or alongside a body of water in the desert .
Totem pole cactus likes a holey , fat , sandy well draining stain . Every couple of class , in the springtime , repot with new soil . Be sure to practice a container that put up ample drain .
Grooming & Maintenance
When grown in the landscape , once establish , these cactus are criminal maintenance devoid . This makes this drouth - tolerant cactus well suited to defect gardening and xeriscaping .
Related Reading
Propagation Of Lophocereus Schottii var. Monstrous
Propagate schottii monstrosus from a cut . In the wild , bits of the plant fall , break off or are launder to new localisation . Once locate , they set down root and lead off to grow slowly .
To propagate , reduce off young cuttings , shoot or segment of mature pillar . Allow the cold shoulder oddment to dry for a few daylight and then implant in idle , well - draining sandy / gravelly dirt .
Do not water the cactus for a week . Then mist every few solar day to supply a bit of wet until the clipping develops ascendant .
Lophocereus Schottii var. Monstrous Pests or Diseases
If develop in a shady surround or allowed to stand up in weewee , it will become susceptible to common pests such asaphids on cactus , scale , succulent mealybug , and the alike .
Too much wet will lead to fungal contagion and hogwash .
Is The Pole Cactus Considered Toxic or Poisonous?
Monstrous Whisker Cactus and its fruits are non - toxic .
Are Pole Cactus Considered Invasive?
This slow growing cactus needs very specific climate and soil circumstance to thrive . It is not think invasive in any mise en scene .
Suggested Lophocereus Schottii var. Monstrous Uses
The desert totem Pole Cactus make an fantabulous indoor , potted plant in any climate . ensure to give these succulent plants a warm , sunny setting .
plant should receive full sun all sidereal day long . South or western United States facing windows ply the best vulnerability .
In colder climate , the totem pole cactus can delay outside during the fountain and summer . impart your plant indoors when the temperatures begin to drop in the fall .
