Care of the cacti Browningia hertlingiana or Blue Cereus |
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The genus Browningia, family Cactaceae, comprises 11 species of cacti native to South America. Some species are: Browningia hertlingiana, Browningia columnaris, Browningia altissima, Browningia viridis. Common names: Blue Cereus, Blue Cactus. This species is native to southern Peru. They are columnar cacti of bluish color that reach 8 meters (26.24 feet) in height. They can have more than 18 ribs. The areolas are woolly at the top of the cactus and have 6 to 10 radial spines of a golden color with a reddish tip and 1 to 4 central spines. The flowers are white and tube-shaped but only reach 5 cm (1.96") in diameter. They bloom in summer and the flowers open at night. They are used in pots when they are young; adult specimens are used as isolated specimens, in rockery, on dry, sunny slopes, or in cactus and succulent gardens. Browningia hertlingiana needs full sun exposure and hot, dry climates. The winter safety temperature should not be less than 5 ºC (41 ºF). If it's grown in pots, a commercial substrate for cacti is used as soil; in the garden use a mixture of 50% leaf mulch and 50% coarse sand. Water moderately in spring and summer, waiting for the soil to dry out; reduce watering in autumn and eliminate it in winter. They do not need fertilization or pruning. They are resistant to pests but sensitive to excess moisture. They propagate by seeds sown in spring in a slightly moistened sandy substrate or by cuttings that must be dried 2 days before putting them to root. |
Images of the cacti Browningia hertlingiana or Blue Cereus |
 Browningia hertlingiana |