Consulta Plantas

Care of the cacti Cephalocereus senilis or Old man cactus

The genus Cephalocereus, family Cactaceae, comprises 5 species of cactus native to Mexico. The species are: Cephalocereus senilis, Cephalocereus column-trajani, Cephalocereus totolapensis, Cephalocereus nizandensis, Cephalocereus apicicephalium.

Common names: Old man cactus, Bunny cactus, White Persian Cat cactus. This species is native to Querétaro and Hidalgo (Mexico).

They are columnar cacti that can branch out and reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height (in nature they reach 15 meters/49.2 feet). They have curious spines in the form of gray hairs that protect them from the cold. In pot they do not usually bloom. They produce large white flowers that open at night in mid-spring and early summer.

These slow-growing cacti are used to create mini cactus gardens, in rockeries or in pots for balconies and terraces.

Cephalocereus senilis needs very sunny exposure to develop white spines. Young plants do not resist less than 10 ºC (50 ºF) but adult plants can resist up to 6 ºC (42.8 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture of 1/2 coarse sand and 1/2 leaf mulch. The surface of the substrate should be covered with gravel to avoid accumulating moisture.

Water very moderately and never directly wet the plant.

If we want to increase the growth of "white hair" fertilize with mineral fertilizer rich in lime once in spring and once in summer.

Your worst enemy is overwatering, which can rot the plant; they can also be attacked by mealybugs.

They propagate easily from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the cacti Cephalocereus senilis or Old man cactus