Tips to grow Mexican Fence Post Cactus problem-free
- Plant into a cactus soil mix
- Avoid over watering
- Avoid very humid and damp conditions
- Never allow the roots to stand in water
- Give your plant at least 6 hours of direct sun every day
- Protect from frost if you can
- Fertilize sparingly only during Spring and Summer
- Use natural insecticides to keep pests at bay
How do you care for a Mexican Fence Post cactus?
Ironically, the Mexican fence post in my plant container is growing the fastest and shows no signs of stress from the summer sun. In fact, my container cactus has grown twice as fast as the one in my landscape that receives full sun. In addition, I water my container-bound Mexican fence post once a week.
What is the best soil for Mexican fencepost cactus?
Mexican Fencepost cactus is a succulent plant that most people take for granted. This plant has impeccable benefits when kept indoors or outdoors. However, to grow this cactus plant to its full potential some elements are crucial, that are mentioned as follows: The soil necessary to grow this plant is any regular cactus soil.
Can I plant my Mexican Fence Post in the desert?
My poor little Mexican fence post hardly had any time to establish new roots. I would have had much better success with this cactus had I planted it in the fall. My second big mistake was not giving my brand new Mexican fence post any shade for its first summer in my desert landscape.
What is a Mexican Fence Post cactus?
This cactus, above, is a Mexican Fence Post (Pachycereus marinatus), which has been happily growing in my front garden. What may not be initially obvious is that 11 years ago, I started this cactus from a 2 ft. piece of one (called a ‘cutting’) given to me by a client from their large Mexican Fence Post cactus.
See more
How fast do Mexican fencepost cactus grow?
The fence post cactus is Pachycereus marginatus, which ranges over much of northern Mexico along the Border States. It has the capability of growing quickly in the summer months, up to 3 feet reported, which is the result of adaptation summer monsoon season from the Gulf of Mexico.
How do you grow a Mexican cactus?
If you are planting outdoors, prepare a suitable size hole. Half fill with cactus mix and water it. Place the plant into the hole and cover with soil. Ensure that the spot you have chosen gets full sun.
How do Mexican fence post cactus grow?
Known as the Mexican fence post cactus, it is often used as a barrier in hotter climates that support its growth. These stiff plants can grow up to 50 feet tall in the wild, but stay closer to 12 feet when cultivated domestically. Often they split at their base to form two or more branches, all of which grow upright.
How tall does Mexican fencepost get?
6'-20' tallThe Mexican Fencepost cacti is a slow-growing clustering cacti with tall column-like trunks. It can grow up to 6'-20' tall with many upright "arms" that grow from the base. In Spring, they will produce pink/red flowers. This maintenance free cactus does great in well-draining soil in full sun and reflected heat.
Can I cut the top off my cactus and replant it?
Almost all the material you remove is salvageable except for diseased or dead stems and leaves. Pads will root if laid on top of soil and develop into a new plant of the same species. Cut stems and trunks should be allowed to callus at the end for several days and then can be planted to create new cactus.
Can I cut a cactus and replant it?
Propagating by stem cuttings is probably the most common and easiest route. Many cacti can be propagated successfully by stem cuttings. Stem cuttings are taken from an existing plant, then allowed to dry and callous. The cuttings will eventually start rooting from the cut end and start growing as a new plant.
How do you repot a columnar cactus?
1:2713:52Safely Repotting A Blue Columnar Cactus - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI water mine probably every 7 to 11 days somewhere along there but you do want the soil to dry outMoreI water mine probably every 7 to 11 days somewhere along there but you do want the soil to dry out before you water it.
How do you water a Mexican Fence Post Cactus?
Plant the Mexican fencepost in well-draining soil and full sun with reflected heat or partial shade. It is drought-resistant, but likes occasional water during the hot, dry months. Let the soil completely dry out between irrigations.
Why is my red cactus turning black?
Cacti turn black due to fungal diseases, including bacterial necrosis, crown rot, and phyllosticta pad spotting. To save your indoor plant at this point, you should remove the affected areas and try to prevent the spread of infection to the rest of your cactus as well as other nearby houseplants.
Do Mexican fence posts grow arms?
Mexican Fence Post Landscaping Tips Because the spines on the Mexican Fence Post are short, and the cactus grows upwards neatly (minimal curves and no arms branching out from the sides), this cactus can be planted near an area with high foot traffic.
How do you grow a cactus from a cutting?
2:543:57HOW TO PROPAGATE CACTUS EASY & FAST - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDays then mist the topsoil. When it feels dry to touch. Once the roots mature water the soil deeplyMoreDays then mist the topsoil. When it feels dry to touch. Once the roots mature water the soil deeply when it's completely dry.
What are the steps in planting a cactus?
The Steps To Growing Cactus From SeedAcquiring the seeds. The first step to planting cactus seeds is purchasing them. ... Harvesting from the pods. ... The soil you plant the seeds in is significant. ... Exposing the seeds to the sun. ... What to do when germination starts. ... Repotting. ... Recovery time after repotting.
How do you propagate a cactus from a cutting?
Choose a healthy piece of stem at least 10cm long and cut it off cleanly with snips. Use tongs when handling spiny cacti. For plants without stems, remove whole leaves by hand (don't cut them off). Sit cuttings on a window sill and leave them until the cut surfaces have healed over.
How do you root a broken piece of cactus?
Dig a small hole in the potting medium and bury one-third to one-half of the pad or stem, bottom end down, in the mix. Place in a warm location in bright, filtered light. Don't water the plant until it begins to develop roots.
Where are Mexican fence posts native to?
The Mexican fence post is native to the states of Hidalgo, Queretaro, and Guanajuato, and is widely planted and naturalized throughout Mexico.
How tall is a cactus?
Description. This handsome cactus has tall, columnar trunks and reaches heights of twenty feet, or more. It produces clusters of stout, cylindrical stems that resemble a pipe organ. The plant develops many arms during its lifetime and grows quicker with supplemental irrigation. It is deep green with ribs that have minor spines.
How to propagate a cactus?
Propagate cactus during the warm season, when the threat of frost is over. 2. Make the cut at the joint where the segment attaches to the parent plant. For prickly pear cacti, you can cut a segment that consists of 1 – 3 pads. 3.
What to use to grab a cactus with thorns?
Multiple layers of newspaper and gloves are helpful to use to grab onto cacti with short thorns. For cacti with longer thorns, you can use carpet remnants. When you cut out a piece of cactus, it will be much heavier then you are expecting – so be prepared.
How long do you leave cacti in a dry spot?
We then placed the cutting in a dry, shady spot for 2 weeks in order to allow the cut site to ‘callus’ over, which would protect the cacti from rotting when it is replanted.
How to cut a prickly pear cactus?
2. Make the cut at the joint where the segment attaches to the parent plant. For prickly pear cacti, you can cut a segment that consists of 1 – 3 pads. 3. Place the new cutting in a dry, shady spot for 2 weeks to allow the cut site to ‘callus’, which protects the cacti from rot when it is replanted. 4.
Who is the AZ plant lady?
Soon, you will begin to see new growth on your cactus. Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a horticulturist, cert ified arborist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate.
Where is the fence post cactus from?
Pachycereus marginatus is a species that belongs to the Cactaceae family. Mexican fence post cactus is originally grown in southern Mexico.
What is a Mexican fence post cacti?
The pinkish-red flowers are really attractive and change the vibe of your garden. Mexican fence post cacti are sometimes used as a fence that is why it is called so. It looks really pretty in the garden.
Where can I buy these cute cacti?
Now you must be wondering where you can find Mexican fence post cactus for sale. For buying Mexican fence post cactus, home depot can be an option. You can also look for them in some popular websites like Amazon, Etsy, Nurseylive, and Plantsguru.
How to take care of these cacti?
The caring process of every cactus is more or less the same. Here, I am going to elaborately tell you how to care Mexican fence post cactus spec ifically. It is not as difficult as you are thinking right now.
Why do Mexican fence post cactus get diseases?
Now, I am going to discuss about Mexican fence post cactus problems. Cactus often get diseases due to lack of caring. Now, I will highlight some of the common diseases it could get and will share how you can avoid or cure these diseases.
Why do we call it a fence cactus?
Now, why do we call it a fence cactus? The cactus grows very tall and features like a long pipe and due to its columnar structure, it is used as a live fence often and therefore the name.
What temperature do fence post cactus live in?
The Fence post cactus can live in low temperatures like 25ºF as well as in high temperatures like 50 ºF. A dry and rough environment is ideal for growing this cactus.
What is the name of the Mexican fence post cactus?
Perhaps one of the most common plants you may have come across in this lifetime from the cacti family is Pachycereus marginatus or commonly known as Mexican Fence Post cactus according to Arizona University.
What temperature do cactus plants need?
The best temperature range for this cactus lies between 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.9 degrees Celsius) to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) Lesser-known for its name, the appearance of this plant has been widely seen across cactus plant owners, especially in Central Mexico where this plant is most prevalent.
Why are Pachycereus marginatus used as fences?
Pachycereus marginatus are used as fences because they grow tall, tough and bulky and have long spines that can be a protectant for your home. They are basically Mother Nature’s safety net for the home. Therefore, you don’t need to go out of your way to build an actual fence.
How tall is a pachycereus marginatus?
Pachycereus marginatus is a columnar growing cactus that can go as staggeringly tall as 15 meters high in nature and about four meters tall when kept as a houseplant. In its natural habitat, Pachycereus marginatus cacti plants are raised in a desert environment and are very self-sustainable. If you are looking for a plant ...
How often should I fertilize cacti?
Obtaining a store-bought fertilizer for cacti plants would suffice. In the warm growing months, you can fertilize roughly once a month at equal proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Just like the steps you would take for watering, refrain from fertilizing pachycereus marginatus in the winter time.
Do pachycereus marginatus roots need soil?
Of course, when you have a Pachycereus marginatus at home, you would need to have proper soil.
Does Pachycereus marginatus grow slow?
Pachycereus marginatus grows quite slow mannered similar to some of their cacti counterparts.
How often should I water a Mexican fence post?
That compares to my totally stress-free Mexican fence post that I water once a week.
Which cactus is more tolerant of sun?
Based on my experience, there are other columnar cactus varieties that are much more tolerant of excessive sun exposure. They include some of my other favorites like the organ pipe cactus, the tough toothpick cactus, the Peruvian apple cactus, and of course, the saguaro cactus.
Do cactus get full sun?
Then, I planted the second one in a large planter just outside my front door. This cactus only gets a few hours of full sun in the afternoon, and is in dappled shade from my Mediterranean fan palm for another three hours.
Do cactus grow fast in the summer?
During the fall, winter, and spring, both cactus columns grew fast. When the southwest summer sun finally hit them, they both were only slightly stressed. Still, the one in my landscape that receives full sun has shown moderate signs of sun and heat stress.
Does Mexican fence post grow in the sun?
Based on my limited experience so far, my container-bound Mexican fence post is growing the best, despite the fact that it receives only partial sun throughout the sun.
Do cactus need sun protection?
Even though this cactus loves the sun, it needs more protection from the sun during its first year, especially when compared with other cactus varieties. To shield my new cactus, I should have bought an inexpensive mesh shade netting that would have protected my cactus from UV radiation.
Does agave cactus need more water?
Theoretically, that’s too much water for most agave and cactus varieties. Still, it hasn’t harmed this variety, and the extra water seems to have made it grow much faster. If my planter-bound Mexican fence post keeps up its furious pace of growth, it will soon touch the soffit of my over-hanging roof.
