Pereskia aculeata
Succulents are incredible plants: there are countless species of cacti and succulents, and most of them are perfect for growing in pots. But if there is a cactus plant that draws more attention, it is the pereskia. This is a cactus considered a living fossil, since it was one of the first of the Cactaceae family to inhabit the Earth, around 35-40 million years ago.
It is a plant of tropical origin, native to Argentina and Mexico, where it lives in the jungles. It grows to a height of between 1 and 20m depending on the varieties, and has very, very pretty flowers, white, magenta, red or yellow.
Pereskia weberiana »Cervetano»
This is a very complete cactus: it has leaves, but it also has thorns. Roses, which sprout in spring, are about 5cm in diameter. The fruits are spherical, up to 5cm in diameter, red when they finish ripening. Its growth rate is much faster than that of other cacti (depending on the growing conditions, it can grow 30-35cm / year), and it is also more tolerant to humidity. In fact, it does not bear much drought 🙂.
If you dare to expand your collection with this cactus with leaves, it is very important that you protect it from cold and frost. Being tropical, a temperature lower than 5ºC can harm it, first damaging the roots, and later the leaves, which would end up falling.
Pereskia grandifolia
If we talk about irrigation, this will have to be weekly, something more frequent in summer. During the winter, it is recommended to water very little, once every 10-15 days. During the hot months, you can take the opportunity to add a few drops of liquid mineral or organic fertilizer. In this way, you will have optimal growth and development.
What did you think of this unique cactus?