Cactus

Blue torch cactus care tips for easy propagation

Blue Torch Cactus is the common name of Pilosocereus Pachycladus. This beautiful cactus is distinguished by its distinctive bluish-green (occasionally silvery) turquoise hue. The unique hue of this plant will provide an intriguing flash of blue to your home, office, or home office. The Tree Cactus originated in Brazil and, unsurprisingly, has been cultivated because of its natural beauty and remarkable aesthetic.

Pilosocereus Pachycladus
Pilosocereus Pachycladus

Blue torch cactus

This cactus is quite popular and grows quickly and tall if given a little dose of care and sufficient sunshine, growing roughly 1 -2 feet per year. Blue Torch Cactus may grow up to 33 feet (10 metres) tall. Brazilian Torch Cactus care is simple since it is tough, robust, and adapted to a hard desert climate.

This plant originates from the subtropical areas of Brazil, Mexico, and the Caribbean and belongs to the genus Pilosocereus of the Cactaceae family. In this post, you will learn about its main characteristics as well as how to care of it.

Flowers aren’t the only plants that add colour to the landscape. Some plants, such as the Blue Torch Cactus have distinctively coloured stems or trunks.

This cactus has a simple and neat columnar structure, growing tall and upright, yet it has striking colours: blue stems and contrasting gold spines. The blossoms are stunning, with large, gorgeous white flowers.

Blue is one of the most unique hues found in plants. The Blue Torch Cactus will undoubtedly astonish your visitors, especially if they have never seen a blue cactus before.

  • Pilosocereus Azureus
  • Tree Cactus
  • Blue Columnar Cactus,
  • Blue Cactus

What Is the Origin of the Name “Blue Torch Cactus”?

The genus name, Pilosocereus, is a combination of the Latin and Greek words for “hairy” and “pillar,” which describes its stunning look. The genus has roughly 50 species of cactus, several of which have bluish bodies. However, only this cactus possesses a brilliant azure blue hue, which is why it is known as Pilosocereus Azureus. In addition to its biological name, the plant is also known as the blue candle cactus, torch cactus, and Brazilian cactus.

How to propagate blue torch cactus?

Like many other cacti, the blue candle cactus develops as a single trunk with side offsets. As a result, if you wish to reproduce your indoor blue cactus, you have two options:

  1. propagation from cuttings
  2. propagation from seeds
How to propagate blue torch cactus
How to propagate blue torch cactus

Propagation from Cuttings

You can multiply an adult specimen that has grown at least 8 inches by cutting off its top to a length of at least one inch.

  • Allow the area to dry, harden, and create a scab for seven to fifteen days in the shade. The bottom region around the incision will shrink as the plant attempts to repair the cut by sucking water from that area, which should not be a reason for concern.
  • Insert the cutting into the prepared container with the substrate once the incision has healed. The healthy, fresh section of the cutting should be above or level with the surface.
  • Press your fingers into the earth around the cactus to maintain its solidity, but don’t water it for at least a few days.
  • Water the plant five or six days later by pouring water around the edge of the pot.
  • When the rooting process is complete, the plant will resist movement, showing that the root is fixed to the earth.

Seeds Propagation

Propagation from seed is feasible, but it can be a time-consuming and patient procedure

  1. Fill a container halfway with the cactus mixture dirt.
  2. Using a sprayer, wet the substrate.
  3. Spread the seeds out over the surface. The seeds do not have to be equally dispersed since clustered seeds germinate better.
  4. Because seeds require sunshine to germinate, they should not be covered with dirt.
  5. Cover the pot with a plastic bag that has a few holes poked in it for air movement.
  6. Place the container somewhere sunny and warm, since seeds germinate at temperatures above 65 °F.
  7. Mist the surface from time to time to keep it wet. Sprouts may emerge in a matter of weeks or months! As a result, don’t give up right away.

Note: You can transplant small new cacti into individual pots once they reach one inch in height.

Blue torch cactus flower

This plant blooms with bluish-white flowers with prominent pistils and yellow anthers when it reaches 12 inches in height. The flowers bloom at night and, sadly, only endure one day. The plant will produce Blue Torch Cacti seeds if any of the nocturnal insects fertilise the blooms.

Blue torch cactus flower
Blue torch cactus flower

Potting and Repotting

The roots of the blue candle cactus extend vertically and below the surface of the substrate. It is the result of a long-term adaptation to very hard, frequently stony or rocky soil in its native habitat, through which the root cannot penetrate.

When planting candle cactus, use broad and shallow pots that allow the root ball to grow and develop the solidity of the cactus’ high columnar body. Of course, the container must have drainage holes through which excess water from the substrate can flow.

Furthermore, containers made of natural materials such as clay or terracotta are preferable to plastic ones for growing cacti since they absorb moisture from the soil and avoid water collection around the plant’s roots.

Because the plant is not used to having its roots crowded, it may grow for years in the same pot as it does not mind root bounding. Replace the old substrate with a new one every second or third year. Only when the roots have completely filled the previous container should you replace it with a slightly larger one. To escape the painful stings of the plant’s thorns, wear protective hands and cover the plant in a newspaper or an old cloth before transferring.

Water guide

To guarantee enough supply, the Blue Torch Cactus will need bi-weekly watering. The cactus might require more regular watering throughout the summer months, as this is when the Blue Torch Cactus grows the most. It is time to water if the soil is dry several inches below the surface. You don’t want to let the soil totally dry up. Take into account, that overwatering is one of the most common errors in Tree Cactus care. Too much water will result in rotting.

One important way to help your Blue Torch Cactus thrive and avoid rot due to overwatering is to ensure that the soil drains well. This can be achieved by planting your Tree cactus in dry sandy soil and a pot that drains sufficiently.  There are specific cactus and succulent soil mixtures that allow for optimal drainage.

Food Guide

Blue Torch Cactus maintenance is simple and requires little effort. This plant has been reported to grow 1 to 2 feet every year. While it is not usually necessary to fertilise your cactus, giving it a little extra love in the form of plant food won’t harm it. To avoid burning this plant, dilute the water-soluble fertiliser or liquid plant food appropriately (half the recommended dosage).

Temperature Requirements

Cacti are naturally linked with hot, dry areas since they dislike wetness and cold temperatures. If you live in the northern hemisphere, you must shelter your Blue Torch Cactus throughout the winter because it is not frost resistant and can die at temperatures below 30 °F. As soon as the temperature is near freezing, the water in its stems freezes, tearing down the cell structure and destroying the plant.

As a result, if the winters are severe in your location, you should bring your plant inside by the end of September. The ideal temperature for growing is from 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant enters a dormant state, in which its demands for water and nutrients are much lower than usual.

Outside of regulated home circumstances, you can only grow the plant in the garden if you live in US climatic zones 9b to 11. In such areas, the plant may spend the winter outside, but it should be protected from the elements with a burlap cover or frost blanket during the colder months. This cover will keep the soil from freezing and rotting during the damp winter months.

Humidity

Despite being classified as a semi-succulent that thrives in locations where the proportion of air humidity ranges from 40% to 70%, this cactus can withstand dry, even desert conditions. It indicates it has a high degree of adaptability to atmospheric moisture and thrives in both dry and slightly humid environments.

Overall, you shouldn’t be concerned about the humidity in the room. Extreme moisture will affect it, as it will any succulent. Fortunately, the ordinary household environment does not include the values that would harm this plant. In regular indoor conditions, Blue Torch Cactus feels pretty excellent.

Light Maintenance

The Blue Torch Cactus, as a desert cactus, enjoys basking in the sun! This plant requires up to 10 to 12 hours of direct sunshine every day. This quantity of sunlight is best obtained by placing your cactus on a windowsill or near a sliding glass door where it will be drenched in light. If you reside in a tropical or desert area, you may grow this plant outside in a yard, patio, or balcony where it can soak up all of the delicious sunshine. However, it is advisable to let your Blue Torch Cactus acclimate before moving it from indoors to outside.

Care Tips for Blue Torch Cactus

  • Grow it in a brightly lit area! More sunlight equals more vivid blue.
  • It is not frost-tolerant and must spend the winter in a warm place, so protect it from freezing temperatures.
  • Only water until the substrate is fully dry!
  • Grow it in well-drained, light soil for cacti and succulents, or make a homemade combination of the same parts of soil, perlite, and fertilizer. Fertilize it optionally, since it will grow even if not fed!
  • After two or three years, transplant it onto a new substrate, preferably in the spring!
  • When handling it, use protective gloves! Even though its spines are small, they may nevertheless cause pain!

What are the common issues of Blue Torch Cactus?

The essential of caring for cacti is to not be overly concerned with them. They are an example of great adaptability, capable of surviving on their own. You will only endanger them if you water them more than they require. Their sole weakness is that they live in a damp substrate.

Moisture in the soil causes the roots to decay, transferring the problem to the trunk. Because it begins inside the cactus’ body, this process is not usually immediately evident. When visible indications, such as discolouration and mushy tissue, occur, it is typically too late!

Dangerous pests for Blue Torch

Mealybugs, spider mites, and scales are dangerous pests like any other plant in the house and can damage your Blue Torch Cactus. Because of the morphology of this plant, its presence will be more noticeable than in deciduous and branching plants. As a result, as soon as you discover pale patches or discolouration, you should use some efficient pest control solutions.

You may get rid of the intruders by momentarily immersing the cactus’s body in a basin of water. After the treatment, dry the plant and restore it to its original location

Final words

And if you’re not a lover of cacti, you will find it difficult to resist this stunning species! The enduring and flexible Blue Torch Cactus may fit into any home. It is great for beginners and people who have the desire but lack the time to care for plants.

You can also read about Torch cactus propagation and care tips if you are planning to add a small corner of cactus to your beautiful garden.

So are you ready to take on the challenge of raising a Blue Torch Cactus?

Sunbal Razzaq

Sunbal Razzaq is the founder & CEO of Succulent Propagation

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