Stenocereus pruinosus

How to grow Stenocereus pruinosus cactus growing and care:

Dry soil (not too much moist), better to have different cultivars for cross pollinators

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – propagating cutting or daughter plant

How to propagate:
Daughter plants mostly need to take care when pull it from the ground you take all the roots, take a plastic spatula or something harder depend the soil and uncover the roots, dig around the plant and better to use air blower machine or wash it with stream (but let it dry after).

Cutting – better to take all the cactus and cut it for pieces or else it’s just looks cut in the middle, cut with sterile knife after this let the cut part to stay on the shade to heal it’s might take few weeks and even months, put it on the soil with support (stick or something that won’t fall) cover lightly and lightly from the side and water it small amount of water.

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Yes, yield faster

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Spines

Planting season:
Spring to autumn, hardiness zone 9b-10a better in spring to summer, hardiness zone 10b-11 spring to autumn and all year in hardiness zone 12

How to plant:
Hold the plant in the part without spine it will be easier to handle prevent that the spines get into the skin, it’s prevent to plant it properly and when the plant big and also it might fall, need to locate the cactus possible with papers cover enough that the spines won’t get to your hands, to put the soil need to use spoon or small shovel to push and tighten the soil, when the plant not stable put few sticks from the place that the plant tend to fall in order to support it until the plant establish.

Pests and diseases:
Snails, slugs

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
When the plant stop to grow new branches, when the branches grow into each other and it’s hard to pick up the fruits, rotten parts to cut few cm before the infected part

Size of the plant:
3-10 m, 10-30 feet, but in pot can be smaller as designed

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Slow growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water and it’s drought tolerant

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, container or clay pot that will be 20-50% bigger (not need deep because the root shallow) for good drainage that important use in the bottom of the container with little rocks like: gravel, lava rocks or pebbles, soil should be cactus potting mix, make holes in the container for good drainage,

Switch the soil after few years:
Removing the cacti from their pots, take paper and put slowly the plant on the paper, possible to “help” the cactus with the hands better to cover with papers or plastic wrap, after that prepare again the “little rocks” in the bottom, put part of the cactus potting mix, take the plant with and locate it in the new place, if it’s small take the soil mix with spoon and organize it (not to get the spines in hands) if it’s bigger use small garden shovel and squeeze the soil that the cactus will be stable and won’t fall, sometimes when it’s not stable better to add some stick that will hold the cactus.

Blooming information

Bloom season?
Spring / Summer

General information about the flower:
White with some pink in the edges flower, the size of the flower 10+ cm

Pollination is done by:
Bees when before the sunset, in the night moth

Edible fruits

Fruit harvest season:
Summer / Autumn

Fruits pests or diseases:
Snails, slugs, fruits

What can be done with big quantities of Stenocereus pruinosus fruit?
Eat raw, juice, jams

Work requirements on the fruit:
Nothing special

How long does it take to bear fruit?
5-10 years

How to grow from seeds

Sow in in full sun, better sandy soil or well ventilated soil like cactus potting mix and good drainage is important

Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark place in room temperature

Sowing season:
spring but possible in autumn and winter in hot climate, in summer put it in full shade, in hardiness zone 10a spring to summer, hardiness zone 10b spring to autumn, hardiness zone 11 all year

Planting spacing:
20-30cm, (8-12 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
0.5cm, (0.25inches)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil but do not over water and don’t let it dry

Watering requires for Seeds:
Small amount of water, lightly moist soil and don’t let it dry

Germination time:
2-6 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Full sun and don’t overwater

Scientific name:

Stenocereus pruinosus

Alternative names: Echinocactus pruinosus, Cactus pruinosus, Cereus pruinosus, Lemaireocereus pruinosus, Ritterocereus pruinosus, Rathbunia pruinosa, Pitaya fruits, Cereus repandus