GROWING PEYOTE CACTI
CULTIVATION AND CARE OF PEYOTE CACTI (LOPHOPHORA WILLIAMSII)
CULTIVATION AND CARE MANUAL FOR PEYOTE CACTI
Manual for growing and caring for the Peyote Cactus (Lophophora williamsii) yourself.
All information also applies to the:
A. other Lophophora species, such as:
1. Lophophora williamsii var. decipiens, Lophophora williamsii var. caespitosa.
2. Lophophora diffusa, Lophophora koehresii.
3. Lophophora jourdaniana.
B. Other Lophophora forms, such as:
4. Lophophora williamsii f. caespitosa.
5. Lophophora williamsii f. cristatus.
5. Lophophora williamsii f. pentagona.
0. LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE PEYOTE CACTUS
The Peyote Cactus faces the following living conditions during its life:
1. soil in which the roots can grow, so that the Peyote is stable, and which contains water and nutrients.
2. air from which carbon dioxide (CO2) and moist vapour is absorbed, and to which moisture is evaporated and oxygen is given off.
3. light that the Peyote Cactus absorbs and converts into energy (photosynthesis).
4. temperature that determines the speed of all processes in the Peyote Cactus....
5. water in which nutrients are transported, and which makes the Peyote Cactus firm due to water pressure (turgor).
turgor = pressure of the cell contents on the cell wall, which determines the firmness of a Peyote Cactus.
6. nutrients the Peyote Cactus needs to make new tissue.
The trick is to make these living and growing conditions as good as possible.
So that the Peyote Cactus can continue to grow well and will often flower.
1. PEYOTE CACTUS SOIL (SOIL)
In nature, Peyote Cacti grow in nutrient-poor soil.
Also in cultivation, the soil should not contain too many nutrients.
The composition and structure of the peyote soil determines how much and how well the roots can absorb nutrients.
The more compact and heavy the soil mixture, the worse the rooting.
Water and nutrients are then more difficult to absorb, resulting in slower growth.
2. AIR AT THE LOCATION OF THE PEYOTE CACTUS
The air around the Peyote Cactus affects its functioning.
Important are:
1. carbon dioxide (CO2) content.
The more wind, the more supply of carbon dioxide that the Peyote Cactus can absorb.
In a nursery, the carbon dioxide content can be artificially increased.
This makes Peyote Cacti absorb more carbon dioxide, which makes them grow faster.
2. the amount of moisture in the air (humidity).
The Peyote loses moisture to the surrounding air through evaporation.
The drier and warmer the air, and the more air movement (wind), the more moisture loss occurs.
3. LIGHT FOR THE PEYOTE CACTUS
Peyote Cacti in the sun !
Sunlight is very important for the Peyote !
Make sure the Peyote gets at least 3-4 hours of sunlight a day.
Avoid overheating above 60 - 70 degrees Celsius in closed, unventilated rooms.
In very hot weather, open a window or protect the Peyote from the sun with something that provides shade.
For example, put netting or a newspaper over the Peyote Cactus.
4. TEMPERATURE AT THE LOCATION OF THE PEYOTE CACTUS
The temperature at the place where the Peyote Cactus grows determines the speed of all life processes in the Peyote.
Both high and low temperatures and their duration affect assimilation, water uptake, growth and flowering.
Temperature in the sun
During the growth period of the Peyote, a temperature in the sun of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius is good.
The temperature at night can then drop to 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.
Winter temperature
The temperature in winter can drop to -8 degrees Celsius and even lower.
This depends on the quality of the Peyote.
A watery Peyote grown with a lot of fertiliser (nitrogen) and water will freeze sooner.
A Peyote grown with cactus fertiliser and little water is stronger, and may only freeze at minus 10 or minus 14 degrees Celsius.
'
5. WATERING THE PEYOTE
Cacti are specially equipped to survive droughts.
Water the peyote every fortnight during the growing period from 1 March to 1 October (= spring, summer and autumn).
Do not water in the winter !
So do not water during the winter period from 1 October to 1 March (= winter dormancy).
If you do water during the winter months, the Peyote will continue to grow.
The Peyote Cactus will then continue to grow elongated, thin and limp.
As a result, the Peyote will deform and become less strong.
6. REST PERIODS FOR THE PEYOTE
Resting periods for the Peyote Cactus
In a year there are two important resting periods for the Peyote Cactus.
During these times the Peyote Cactus grows less, or not at all.
1. Hibernation for the Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
The Peyote should not grow in winter in the Netherlands !
There is too little light in wintertime, which would make the Peyote's growth too thin (narrow) and limp.
Therefore, do not water Peyote Cacti from 1 October onwards, which will stop the plants from growing.
Only from about 1 March onwards should the Peyote Cactus be watered again!
2. Summer dormancy for the Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
The Peyote often stops growing in summer when it gets too hot.
If the Peyote has to endure more than 35 degrees Celsius for a longer period during the day, it stops growing.
This growth stop usually lasts several weeks, and often takes place from mid-July to mid-August.
So it depends on the weather, and on the conditions at the Peyote's growing site.
7. FERTILISING THE PEYOTE CACTUS (FEEDING)
Peyote Cacti absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots.
The nutrients present in the soil are therefore used up slowly.
Those nutrients need to be replenished with Cactus fertiliser or Cactus food.
Composition of fertiliser for Peyote Cacti: little Nitrogen (N)
A Peyote Cactus needs fewer nutrients than Succulents and common plants.
Peyote Cacti need especially little nitrogen (N).
Special Cactus fertiliser with less nitrogen (N) is therefore important.
Fertilise with an N-P-K-Mg fertiliser of about 5-20-40-3 or 7-17-35-3.
Proper fertilisation makes Peyote Cacti grow and flower better !
See also the section: Cactus fertiliser
Magnesium (Mg) is an important nutrient element
The nutrient Magnesium (Mg) is important for the production of chlorophyll.
Magnesium is an important nutrient element for all plants, which must be abundant in the soil.
Magnesium is therefore not a trace element that a Peyote Cactus needs in small quantities!
Most N-P-K fertilisers do not contain Magnesium, only N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potassium).
Total fertiliser for the Peyote Cactus
A total fertiliser allows you to apply all the nutrients you need.
Our Cactus fertiliser is a total fertiliser and also contains Mg (Magnesium) and all trace elements.
Application of our Cactus fertiliser
Cactus fertiliser dissolves well in the water with which you water your Cacti.
Cactus fertiliser dissolves well in water.
Give no more than 1 gram of Cactus fertiliser per litre of water.
More subtle is 0.5 grams of Cactus fertiliser per litre of pouring water.
Frequency of fertilising
Fertilise monthly with a special Cactus fertiliser that is relatively low in N (nitrogen).
Peyote growth when nitrogen (N) is low
The Peyote Cactus then continues to grow in a flat, natural and compact form, and flowers much better.
The colour of the Peyote Cactus's body is then blue-green to grey-blue.
Peyote growth with too much nitrogen (N)
With too much nitrogen in the fertiliser, the Peyote Cactus grows more elongated, thinner and shiny green.
The Peyote then becomes weaker, more susceptible to moisture, sun, pests, cold and frostbite.
Tearing open the side of the plant body due to too much water is then also possible.
Peyote flowering under low nitrogen (N) conditions
The Peyote Cactus flowers much better, sometimes with several flowers at once.
Peyote blooms with too much nitrogen (N)
By absorbing a lot of Nitrogen, the Peyote will mainly grow, and flower less well.