Pilosocereus Strausii - Blue Form

$80.00

🌵 Pilosocereus strausii – Blue Form

Common Names:
Blue Torch Cactus, Silver Torch, Woolly Torch, Blue Pilosocereus

Family: Cactaceae
Origin: Native to high-altitude regions of Bolivia and Argentina, especially in rocky, arid mountain areas.

đź“Ź Physical Description

  • Growth Habit:
    A tall, upright columnar cactus, typically growing 1.5–3 meters (5–10 feet) tall in cultivation, but taller in the wild.
    Usually branches at the base, forming clumps or clusters of vertical blue stems.

  • Stems:
    Cylindrical, powdery blue to steel-blue in color, with 8–10 pronounced ribs.
    Covered in a dense coat of silvery-white radial spines and woolly areoles that give it a frosted or “bearded” appearance.
    The blue hue is most intense in full sun and dry conditions.

  • Spines:
    Thin, white to yellowish spines, up to 2–3 cm long, emerging from small, fluffy white areoles along the ribs.
    Spines are not aggressively sharp, but still handle with care.

🌸 Flowers

  • Appearance:
    Produces nocturnal, funnel-shaped flowers in white or pale pink, around 5–7 cm long, usually in summer.
    Flowers appear on mature plants, often from the upper part of the column.
    May be followed by small, colorful fruit if pollinated.

  • Note:
    Blooming is rare in younger plants and more likely in warm outdoor climates.

🌱 Care and Cultivation

  • Light:
    Needs full sun to develop its best color and form.
    Indoors, place in the brightest window possible (north-facing in Australia). Outdoors, give it direct sunlight most of the day.

  • Watering:
    Water deeply but infrequently.
    Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings. Water even less in winter.
    Very drought-tolerant once established.

  • Soil:
    Requires well-draining, gritty cactus mix—amend with pumice, sand, or perlite.

  • Temperature:
    Prefers warm, dry climates.
    Tolerates heat well, and can handle brief exposure to cold (down to -5°C / 23°F) if kept dry.
    Protect from frost if possible.

  • Feeding:
    Fertilize in spring and summer with a diluted cactus fertilizer every 4–6 weeks.

  • Propagation:
    Can be propagated from cuttings or seeds, though it’s slow-growing from seed.

âś… Quick Care Summary

RequirementDetailsLightFull sun (indoors or outdoors)WateringDeep, infrequent; let soil dry completelySoilVery well-draining cactus mixTemperature18–35°C ideal; frost-sensitive below -5°CFeedingMonthly in active seasonPropagationCuttings or seeds

âś… Perfect For:

  • Cactus and succulent collectors

  • Modern xeriscapes or arid gardens

  • Tall, architectural container displays

  • Sun-drenched patios or warm greenhouses

Note:

The blue form of Pilosocereus strausii is prized for its unique powder-blue tone, which becomes more vibrant in full sun and dry air. It’s a collector’s favorite and a standout in any cactus collection.

🌵 Pilosocereus strausii – Blue Form

Common Names:
Blue Torch Cactus, Silver Torch, Woolly Torch, Blue Pilosocereus

Family: Cactaceae
Origin: Native to high-altitude regions of Bolivia and Argentina, especially in rocky, arid mountain areas.

đź“Ź Physical Description

  • Growth Habit:
    A tall, upright columnar cactus, typically growing 1.5–3 meters (5–10 feet) tall in cultivation, but taller in the wild.
    Usually branches at the base, forming clumps or clusters of vertical blue stems.

  • Stems:
    Cylindrical, powdery blue to steel-blue in color, with 8–10 pronounced ribs.
    Covered in a dense coat of silvery-white radial spines and woolly areoles that give it a frosted or “bearded” appearance.
    The blue hue is most intense in full sun and dry conditions.

  • Spines:
    Thin, white to yellowish spines, up to 2–3 cm long, emerging from small, fluffy white areoles along the ribs.
    Spines are not aggressively sharp, but still handle with care.

🌸 Flowers

  • Appearance:
    Produces nocturnal, funnel-shaped flowers in white or pale pink, around 5–7 cm long, usually in summer.
    Flowers appear on mature plants, often from the upper part of the column.
    May be followed by small, colorful fruit if pollinated.

  • Note:
    Blooming is rare in younger plants and more likely in warm outdoor climates.

🌱 Care and Cultivation

  • Light:
    Needs full sun to develop its best color and form.
    Indoors, place in the brightest window possible (north-facing in Australia). Outdoors, give it direct sunlight most of the day.

  • Watering:
    Water deeply but infrequently.
    Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings. Water even less in winter.
    Very drought-tolerant once established.

  • Soil:
    Requires well-draining, gritty cactus mix—amend with pumice, sand, or perlite.

  • Temperature:
    Prefers warm, dry climates.
    Tolerates heat well, and can handle brief exposure to cold (down to -5°C / 23°F) if kept dry.
    Protect from frost if possible.

  • Feeding:
    Fertilize in spring and summer with a diluted cactus fertilizer every 4–6 weeks.

  • Propagation:
    Can be propagated from cuttings or seeds, though it’s slow-growing from seed.

âś… Quick Care Summary

RequirementDetailsLightFull sun (indoors or outdoors)WateringDeep, infrequent; let soil dry completelySoilVery well-draining cactus mixTemperature18–35°C ideal; frost-sensitive below -5°CFeedingMonthly in active seasonPropagationCuttings or seeds

âś… Perfect For:

  • Cactus and succulent collectors

  • Modern xeriscapes or arid gardens

  • Tall, architectural container displays

  • Sun-drenched patios or warm greenhouses

Note:

The blue form of Pilosocereus strausii is prized for its unique powder-blue tone, which becomes more vibrant in full sun and dry air. It’s a collector’s favorite and a standout in any cactus collection.