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Description:
The standard columnar
Cephalocereus senilis (commonly known as the old man cactus) is very
popular and widely grown for its woolly appearance, but this beautiful
crested form is still rare in cactus collection. The most striking
feature is the long, greyish-white hairs it possesses, which serve to
protect it from the harsh sun common to its native habitat in eastern
Hidalgo, Mexico. More precisely the
long white hairs are actually
long bristles that benefit the plant by reducing sun exposure and by
trapping a layer of air next to the cactus body. This helps to cool the
plant in the summer and keep it warm in the winter. The
coat of hair makes many plants appear almost snow-white (however, the
hairs conceal numerous sharp yellow spines).
Cultivation: It is a slow growing species, but it can be much faster
when grafted and sustained with proper watering and fertilizing.
Plants grown on their own roots need a very well-drained soil mix (more
so than many other cacti) and little to moderate water in summer, almost
none in winter, as they are very rot prone particularly when young. They
require lots of bright sunlight, which encourages growth of the hair.
Frost tolerance: hardy to -10°C for short periods. It is possible to
wash the white "hair" with diluted shampoo or bleach to keep it a candid
white.
The grafted
plants are very easy to grow and will form a large white brain-like mounds
with age. Watering during the active growing season (spring and
summer); this will encourage steady growth, and prevent the plant from
shrivelling.
Propagation:
This plant can be propagated only vegetatively by
grafting or (rarely)
cuttings. |
Cultivation
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