Praecereus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. South America.

Description. Praecereus is a large branching cactus with very thin – up to 3 cm in diameter, flexible and long shoots. The ribs are not deep, with sparse tubercles, which are also poorly defined. The spines are light, often golden, short, straight and strong. At night, in summer, the plant decorates itself with large, 6-10 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped cream-colored flowers on a long, slightly curved flower tube. After flowering, green oblong fruits about 6 cm long are formed, which turn red as they ripen.

Height. The stems reach a length of 3 m and develop quite quickly.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Normal room temperature during the growing season and cool in the winter. Do not expose the plant to temperatures below 10° C. 

Lighting

The cactus should be placed in a brightly lit place. The shoots can take sun baths in the morning and evening, during the day it should be shaded from the scorching rays. In the autumn and winter months, additional illumination with fluorescent lamps is possible.

Care

This species is not as difficult to grow indoors as it seems. Give it plenty of space to develop and periodically tame too long shoots. Sometimes plants need support.

Substrate

Unlike most cacti, the praecereus requires fairly nutritious, porous soil with a high organic content. And, of course, the soil must have excellent drainage.

Feeding

Feed monthly during the warm season with fertilizers for cacti and succulents at half strength. Some species grow throughout the year, depending on temperature conditions, in which case they need to be fed in winter. 

Purpose

A large cactus with huge, very showy, pleasantly smelling flowers.

Flowering time

It blooms in late spring or early summer, and individual buds may appear on larger specimens at any time of year.

Air humidity

When the air in the room becomes too dry and the temperature is high enough, the praecereus will need to be sprayed with warm and soft water.

Soil moisture

Praecereus requires regular watering during the warm season. In winter, when kept in a cool place, watering is reduced to a minimum. Just try not to overdry the soil. It is advisable to use soft bottled water at room temperature for watering.

Transfer

Replant if necessary to change the soil or if the pot becomes too small for the plant.

Reproduction

It is propagated quite simply by cuttings about 15 cm long, rooted in wet peat with sand. The cut site is dried to avoid rotting. Generative propagation by seeds is possible, but this is a long process, suitable for patient cactus growers.

Pests and diseases

Cacti rot when water stagnates, especially in autumn and winter.

Red mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.

Note

Protect your hands with gloves to avoid scratches caused by the sharp spines of the praecereus.