Leptocereus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin: Caribbean.

Description. Leptocereus is a small genus with about 15 species. It is a fairly large, branched cactus. The stems are dark green, up to 5 cm in diameter, the ribs are clearly defined, the areoles are located quite far from each other. The spines are straight, strong, almost black on young plants, up to 5 cm long. The flowers are bell-shaped, white, cream or greenish, solitary, up to 4 cm in diameter. After flowering, fairly large round fruits are formed, up to 4 cm in diameter.

Height: From 30 cm to several meters.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

In spring and summer, keep at normal room temperature. During the dormant period in winter, place in a cool place – 8 - 12 ° C. 

Lighting

Provide the cactus with as much light as possible in autumn and winter. In summer, provide some shade during the daytime.

Care

Adult specimens are large in size and require sufficient space to grow.

Substrate

The soil should easily pass water and air, pH no higher than 6.5. A mixture of leaf humus, turf soil with a large amount of coarse river sand or perlite to improve drainage and small pieces of charcoal is suitable. You can use a ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents. 

Feeding

Feed the leptocereus monthly with cactus and succulent fertilizers high in potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. The fertilizer is diluted to half the recommended dose and applied in spring and summer. Do not feed the cacti during the dormant period.

Purpose

Rarely found in collections and suitable for lovers of rare species.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

Does not require spraying. In winter the air should be especially dry.

Soil moisture

In spring and summer, water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Excess water from the tray must be drained. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced even more and they try not to dry out the soil completely. 

Transplantation

Plants can go many years without replanting, but it is better to replant every 2-3 years into fresh soil. After replanting, stop watering for a week.

Reproduction

By seeds sown in spring or by cutting off lateral shoots. The cut site is dried for several days. By grafting.

Pests and diseases

Cacti rot when there is too much moisture.

Red spider mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.

Note 

Leptocereus is equipped with sharp spines - be careful when handling it.