brand new cactus

[Rei]

When I walked into the house that I was working on today the first thing that I saw was this cactus. When I asked the lady what kind it was she said that she wasn't sure, and asked me if I wanted it. My answer was definitely a yes. She said that she's had him for about 15 years and he was at least 3 years old when she got him.

Can somebody please tell me what kind of cactus this is? I think a san pedro, but I have no experience with these except reading about them. here is a website that shows the same kind of cactus flowering.

 

[Brugmansia]

I'm by no means an expert, but those look like San Pedro to me.

The cactus seems neglected and it seems that it has gotten some poor cuttings in the meantime. From where it has grown further and that are the bays you're seeing.

Did the lady cut them in the past 12 years?

Someone who's aware of psychoactive properties will definitely not give these away and will do much better sterile cuttings and maintainance. Decoration it seems.

What you have got there is enough to free yourself for sure if it's San Pedro. Dry 3 foot and consume.

Nevertheless, what about eating 6 inch? You should get a feeling of calmness out of that if it's San Pedro. Are there cacti specy's with a low poision level? See, told you I don't know anything.

 

[druglessdouglas]

i would compare it with Myrtillocactus Geometrizans. i think thats what it could be. im no expert either so i hope im wrong. i bought a Myrtillocactus Geometrizans thinking it was san pedro. its usually used for grafting stock

 

[Rei]

Two years ago a cutting was taken. the lady obviously didn't know it was psychoactive.

I looked up that graft stock you said. That blooms in spring, my cactus blooms in autumn, and at night. I was already of the mind that it was san pedro. If anybody has reason to believe it's not, say so. I don't want to hurt myself (maybe I'm just being paranoid?)

When I learn more about cacti and how to grow them, I will make some cuttings, and I will test a small batch of it. other wise, I would like some advice.
it had cobwebs on it when I got it, they don't seem like anything but regular cobwebs, should I be concerned?
One of the branches is very gnarly and mangled looking, and it has these things that look like warts on it, they come off fairly easily, though and they don't seem to leave any kind of mark.
I would like a link on how to make successful cuttings. the grafted branch seems like it needs to be grafted again and the main branch seems to be broken.

 

[druglessdouglas]

the cobwebs will be spider mite. have a look for the mites and eggs. you may need a hand lens.

if it is spider mite they can be treeted with a food crop safe insecticide, available from most garden centers. repeat the treatment every 5 days, 3 times. the mite eggs hatch every 5 days and the mites themselves develop immunity very quickly. 3x5days should get rid of them.

the make-up of the insecticide is change regularly in order to deal with the immunity. read labels to find one suitable for red/two spotted spider mite.
its importaint to re-treat every 5 days to avoid breeding "super mites", something a friend did resulting in extremely difficult to treat mites. a veritable plague of them. the only way he got rid of them was when the police knocked his door in and took them away. hopefully they have made a home in the police station

 

[Rei]

What magnification do I need to see them? You mean get three different pesticides?

Can somebody tell me why the one on the left looks shriveled? This causes me worry. The entire cactus looks like it's at least a little bit sick. I would love to give him some sun, but I have no windows that would suffice for this job and it is snowing outside right now.

I would also like to make two cuttings, the main branch in the middle and the one on the left. The middle one seems to be broken and the one on the left seems like a very good place to make a cutting. Making these cuttings would allow me to put them under some T5s. some light is better than none, right?

The messed up looking branch worries me. I have heard that this can happen from over watering. Can somebody verify this, or tell me what really is wrong with it?

I have read Goran's ultimate cacti growing instructions, but I can't understand him sometimes, especially when he starts to type in caps (maybe he just ate some of his cacti? lol, joke). I also am not sure if that guide applies to san pedro.

P.S. It's in regular potting soil, and has been for at least a couple of years, I won't be able to transplant it until I make some cuttings. It's way too heavy, I think over 60 kilos.

 

[GOD]

Is it one cacti or 2 or 3 ?

The one or part on the right hasnt had enough water , warmth or light .

If you need help please ask questions .

 

[druglessdouglas]

one insecticide will do, but use it 3 times. most people will treat once and be reinfected a week later when all the eggs hatch. if you can see the webs you can assume it is spider mite. if you know what to look for you will see them with the naked eye but any sort of magnification will help. often they will be on the surface underneath the more heavily webbed areas.

if you are worried about weight you can remove the whole cactus from its pot. make sure the soil is dry, whap the whole plant in polythene or food wrap (cling film) and just lift it out, or

take your cuttings on the spot. slice off the parts you intend to root and let the cut surfaces dry out before puting them in/on soil. if the cut surfaces are not dry before they come in contact with soil they will rot.

leave the cuttings somewhere airy for 5-10 days untill a skin forms on the cut surface, then place them on top of the compost. roots will grow down into the compost. you can let them dry for much longer if necessary they wont mind.

 

[Rei]

It one cactus, just three branches from the base. I did ask questions, I just also gave relevant information to the questions.

So you say water more? Are the roots sensitive? Can I just pour water in the soil?

I would like to make cuttings so that I can put them under a light while it's too cold (there's snow here). Also to test to see if it's really san pedro, when do you recommend I take this cutting, and how much fresh weight?

 

[druglessdouglas]

best not to water untill you have moved it, got it under lights and warm, and treated the mites. if its going to be in a cold room dont water it at all.
if you water it while it is dormant you risk rotting roots

 

[skoeip]

Im doubting its a trichocereus because of the thin ribs, a san pedro usualy has fatter ribs. but perhaps its a diferent kind of trichocereus or some kind of sub species. probably ghoran knows more.

 

[Rei]

Should I take just a few cuttings at a time, or can I make 15 30cm cuttings? When should I do this, as in time of year? Is One Swift Cut okay for making the cuttings? Can you provide a link to a video?

As you can see the cactus is sitting right beside the heater, but I worry about the root zone. Whenever I built my house I forgot to insulate the floor (STUPID right?) and now it's winter now and it's too cold on the floor (where I sleep because I cant afford a real bed). I put a thermometer on the floor and it's about 45f. should I be worried? How can I fix this? I REALLY can't afford to take the flooring back up to insulate it. Pretty much everything you see in the picture was given to me. I'm lucky right? That's how I get pretty much everything.

 

[druglessdouglas]

Im doubting its a trichocereus because of the thin ribs, a san pedro usualy has fatter ribs. but perhaps its a diferent kind of trichocereus or some kind of sub species. probably ghoran knows more.

thats what i thought but its possibly just thirsty.

the branch to the left looks very much like Myrtillocactus geometrizans to my eye.

i recommend getting a good cactus book and looking at the finer details such as number of ribs, number of spines etc. before consumption just to be safe

 

[Rei]

I know that it was being watered regularly, the lady had it for decoration. My gut feeling is that this is san pedro. Except things that could probably be attributed to mistreatment, this cactus has everything in common with a san pedro, it blossoms at night, the flowers are the same.

EDIT: I just remembered that she said that she hadn't been watering him.

 

[druglessdouglas]

number of ribs? number of spines? its worth making sure. identification of cacti is not easy. its all in the detail

 

[Rei]

Between 5 and 7 ribs, except in spots that look mutated. between 4 and 6 spines and they are spaced about 1cm to 2.

 

[skoeip]

It looks more like a cereus species if your asking me, or a neoraimondia. but im not an cactus specialist. dont forget that your gut feeling is influenced by you willing it to be a san pedro.

 

[Rei]

LOL. I know that my feeling is influenced by my thought and desire. that's why I came here. Mainly I want to know: Could this cactus be poisonous? or Where can I take a cutting or some such to have it identified? A university?

 

[GOD]

I have my doubts about what it is , but in that condition it will be hard to find someone who can identify it . When i needed help i went to the local university and botanical gardens and they were mostly helpfull .

Usualy each one of the lumps the stem makes is one years growth . It looks like it was in a dark corner and threw a shoot off towards the light . Thats the fresh healthy bit on the left . And maybe that took the moisture out of the rest of the cacti . But it looks old .The only way your going to know if it does something is to try it .

Get it healthy before you make a / any cuttings . In winter they need very little light and no water unless they shrivel . If i were you i`d leave it alone untill it starts getting warmer in / at the end of spring . Then re-pot it in a bigger pot with a mineral substarte and put it somewher warm and light . Get some cacti fertilizer and do as it says . ( I used to give half strength but twice as often because of using a mineral substrate ) .

 

[JustinNed]

My humble opionin I don't think it's the right kind, send Goran a PM he can probably tell you atleast whether or not if it is.