Consulta Plantas

Care of the catus Lophophora williamsii or Peyote

The genus Lophophora, family Cactaceae, includes 2 species of small cactus native to northern Mexico: Lophophora williamsii and Lophophora diffusa.

Common name: Peyote.

They are small cacti with a flattened globular body that reach 5 cm (1.96") in height but form colonies. They are bluish-green or reddish-green (if they get a lot of sun) and have broad, flat ribs with areoles without spines but with trichomes. The flowers appear at the apex of the plant and can be white, pink or yellowish. They bloom in spring and summer; take years to bloom.

These very slow growing and easy to grow cacti are used in deep pots because the roots are napiform. They are also used on rockeries in frost-free regions. They contain mescaline (hallucinogenic alkaloid) and are used in indigenous religious rituals.

Lophophora williamsii need full sun exposure and high temperatures. In winter the temperature should be above 3 ºC (37.4 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of leaf mulch, coarse sand, and brown peat. The transplant is done in early spring; do not water when transplanting, wait a few days.

They are extremely resistant to drought. They need less water than other cacti. Do not water from mid-fall to early spring.

They do not need fertilizers or pruning.

They are plants resistant to pests but sensitive to excess humidity.

They propagate from seeds sown in spring (they can be obtained from cylindrical fruits) or by separating suckers.

Images of the cactus Lophophora williamsii or Peyote