Within the cactus family there are many varieties of them. Almost as many as tastes you can have for these plants. One of them is the Cereus repandus, also known as Cereus peruvianus. Do you know him?
Here we leave you a guide with the characteristics that you should know about the Cereus repandus as well as the care in case you have one at home or want to have it. You can consult it to improve the quality of your plant.
How is the Cereus repandus
When looking for data on the Cereus repandus you should know that it is more common to find it by other names. One of the most common is the Cereus peruvianus. However, there are some others such as the Cereus Uruguayanus, candelabra cactus or computer cactus.
It is native to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, although it can now be found in many other countries. It was first described in 1768 by the British horticulturist and botanist Philip Miller.
Visually, we are talking about a columnar cactus made up of one or more stems, which can easily reach 15 meters in height. It is large (stems can be 15-20 centimeters thick (diameter)), straight, and thorny. However, when it is in a pot it is not easy for it to reach that height and it does stay at 1-2 meters at most.
The youngest specimens have a bluish-green hue but, as they mature, this fades and they are darker green.
As for ribs, it has them. The normal thing is that they are between five and eight, that are quite wide and prominent (especially since deep indentations and indentations will appear).
Has, in addition to areolas in those notches that we told you about that will be full of white hair and from which seven small, separate, brown spines will emerge (except in exceptional cases that can measure five centimeters).
Like many other cacti, the Cereus repandus also flowers, but you will only see this in large and more mature specimens. The flowers will be about 15 centimeters long, with white and brownish-green petals. Its flowering season is summer and, in addition, it has the particularity that the flowers only open at night.. A single night, because after that she withers. If you are lucky enough to have pollination in the flower, the fruits will arrive, which will be red and between 2,5 and 5 cm in diameter.
Cereus repandus care
After learning a little more about the Cereus repandusDo you dare to have it at home? This is one of the cacti that you could have both indoors and outdoors. In fact, if you have it indoors it grows much faster than outdoors. But what other care do you need? We explain them to you.
Location and temperature
as we told you, Cereus repandus can be kept indoors or outdoors. It is a variety that, although it needs sun, it does not have to be direct (especially if it is not used to it) because it burns very easily. That's why:
If you want it indoors, place it in an area where it receives several hours of direct sun (but checking that it does not burn it, if so, always better indirect light), and the rest of the day indirect sun. With this it will be able to grow about 30 centimeters a year.
If you want it outdoors, a semi-shade location is better because that way you will ensure that the sun does not do its thing, especially in summer. If the specimen is already used to the sun, then you can leave it in full sun. And its growth in this case? Well, we are talking about between 50 centimeters and 1,2 meters per year (of course, it will depend on giving it the right conditions and having space to grow).
As for the temperature, the heat is not a problem, and neither is the cold, at least until it reaches -3ºC. If it is minor, then yes it can deteriorate. Even so, the first years, or if the specimen is young, it will be more dangerous because it will not be used to it.
Substratum
Like many other plants, the soil for Cereus repandus must be light and, in this case, with plenty of nutrients. A mixture that will work well for you is to use cactus substrate with mulch and perlite, since this way you will provide everything the plant needs.
Its transplant is carried out approximately every two years (at least if you have it in a pot). However, you have to fill it with mulch every year to keep the soil acidified.
Irrigation
The irrigation of Cereus repandus should always be in its growth period, that is, in spring and summer. At that time you should water whenever you see that the soil is dry several centimeters above. If not, you should wait.
For its part, in winter (and autumn) it can be watered once a month, but if there is humidity in the environment then we recommend not doing it.
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The Cereus repandus is one of the cacti that is very grateful to be fertilized. If we take into account that it is a plant that grows very quickly, the extra nutrients will come in handy. The best? One of slow release, rich in potassium and phosphorous, and low in nitrogen.
Plagues and diseases
Although it is quite resistant to resist pests, we recommend that you be careful with mealybugs, which can not only affect the visible area, but also the roots themselves. It can also be an attraction for the red spider, which will make its own.
As for diseases, the most important is root rot, that it can rot and the cactus disappear.
Multiplication
Finally, to propagate Cereus repandus it is best to use the seeds of its fruits.
These are collected from the fruits of the cactus and must be cleaned for planting in spring. They are quite fast (they germinate before other varieties of cacti) but that is also why they are delicate.
In spring you have to plant them in pots with a good soil and, if you keep them at a constant 25ºC, in 14-28 days you will see that they start to come out and grow. Until they are well rooted you should not touch them, and only then should you move them to a small pot so that they begin to grow.
Another way to reproduce it is through rooted stem parts. However, it is not easy to do and also means "breaking" the plant itself. Finally, cuttings are another option, less destructive, and that can give you a better solution.
As you can see, the Cereus repandus is not a cactus that will give you much trouble, and yet it can be very ornamental for your cactus garden. Would you dare to have it?