Cereus jamacaru

Columnar cacti like the Cereus jamacaru They are ideal for planting in pots and having them on a patio or terrace, but they also look very nice in a rockery. It does not grow as much as others, and it also begins to bloom at a younger age, so not only does it take up less space, but you will also be able to see its beautiful flowers sooner than you imagine.

How is it taken care of? The truth is its maintenance is not difficult, but to make it even simpler, keep in mind that it is a plant that should not be overwatered, and that it requires well-drained soil so that its roots do not rot. But in addition, it is important that it is paid on a regular basis.

Origin and characteristics of Cereus jamacaru

It is a columnar type cactus endemic to Brazil that reaches a height of 9 meters.. Its body has between 4 to 8 very marked ribs, protected with up to 4 central spines up to 20 centimeters long, and by 5-7 radial ones that measure 1-1.5 centimeters long.

The flower appears in summer, and is whitish in color. Once it is pollinated, the ripe fruit is about 10 centimeters long and has reddish skin.

What are the care you need?

El Cereus jamacaru, or mandacaru as it is also called, is a plant that only needs basic care to be healthy. But it is important that they know what their needs are, otherwise we could make a mistake and, consequently, lose it. For this reason, we are going to explain everything you have to take into account so that your cactus enjoys good health:

Location

It is often thought that cacti should be in full sun, and in most cases this is the case, but Do you know what happens if you just buy it and leave it in a sunny place? If you have never hit it, it will burn, because it has not had a chance to acclimatize. Something similar happens with ourselves, with our skin: if we lie down to sunbathe on a summer day without protection, we will burn, but if, on the contrary, we apply cream, it will be very difficult for us to suffer damage.

Well, so that it doesn't burn, it is important that we expose it to direct sunlight for a little while at a time for several weeks, until a time comes when we can leave it in that place without having to change it any more.

Earth

With the land in which it is going to grow we have to be a little careful, because the roots of this cactus do not support heavy or compact soils.

Therefore, we recommend planting it in a pot with a specific substrate for this type of plant (on sale here), or if you want to have it in the garden, make a large planting hole and mix the soil with some substrate such as volcanic clay or perlite in equal parts.

Irrigation

Since it can't stand excess water, we're going to water the Cereus jamacaru just sometimes. The most advisable thing is to pour water on it when the soil has dried completely., because the drought does not cause any damage as long as it is of short duration.

For this reason, in case of doubt you can insert a stick to the bottom, and see if when you extract it it is still clean or if, on the contrary, dirt has adhered to it. In the first case, it will mean that it is already dry, and therefore it is necessary to water it; in the second, we will still have to wait a bit.

Even so, and to give you an idea, it should generally be watered a couple of times a week in summer, and once a week the rest of the year.

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For the Cereus jamacaru can grow well we recommend fertilizing it during the spring and summer with a compost or fertilizer, being especially recommended those that are specific for cacti such as this, since these have the nutrients it requires to grow healthy.

But yes: it is necessary to follow the instructions for use, so that the roots are not damaged, something that would undoubtedly happen if it is paid with a higher dose than that indicated by the manufacturer.

Multiplication

The mandacaru is a cactus that can be multiplied by seeds or by cuttings. The best time is spring, once temperatures exceed 18ºC and there are no longer any frosts.

It is done in the following way:

• Seeds: they have to be planted in pots with cactus substrate, burying them a little so that they do not get direct sunlight. Then, it is watered and left outside, in a place where there is a lot of light. If all goes well, they will germinate after a month or so.
• Cuttings: to do this, you have to cut a piece of stem that measures at least 15 centimeters, and leave it in a dry place, in the shade for a week so that the wound dries. After that time, plant it in a pot with cactus substrate, burying it about 3-4 centimeters, and water. After a few weeks it will begin to produce its own roots.

Rusticity

It is a cactus that withstands the cold well, even light frosts of up to -2ºC if they are punctual.

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