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  Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum
forma cristata
CACTUS ART
NURSERY

Cultivation and Mail Sale
of Cacti and Succulents.


T
his is a very strong crest.
 

Description: The typical Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum  is a big “organ-pipe cactus” that looks remiscent of a Saguaro cactus but thinner. The crested form can also  get very big making a spectacular specimen.
 

The typical Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum is an “organ-pipe cactus” that can grow to over 10 meters tall.
The crested form can also  get very big.


 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum.

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery PACHYCEREUS

 


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name:  Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelmann) Britton et Rose 1909
forma cristata

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Synonyms:

  • Cereus pecten-aboriginum Engelmann 1886
  • Pachycereus tehuantepecanus T.MacDougal & Bravo 1956
  • Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum subsp. tehuantepecanus (T.MacDougal & Bravo) P.V.Heath 1992.


 

 


 


Cultivation:   It is a fairly easy plant to grow, both grafted or on its own roots. During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside, where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant.  Furnish good drainage and use a an open and free draining mineral compost that allows therefore roots to breath. They like only a short winter's rest, and should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months. If the soil is allowed to be dry for too long, root loss could follow but equally the same result would occur if the plants were both wet and cold. From March onwards the plant will begin to grow, and watering should be increased gradually until late May, when the plant should be in full growth.
Water regularly during the summer, so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water.  During hot weather you may need to water the plants more frequently, as long as the plant is actively growing.  From late September watering should be reduced, to force the plant to go into a state of semi-dormancy.  By October you should be back in to the winter watering regime.
It needs full sun, avoiding only the harshest summer sun.  If kept too dark, plants may become overly lush and greener, and could be prone to rot, due to over-watering.
Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh.  Then feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently.  Do not feed the plants from September onwards, as this can cause lush growth, which can be fatal during the darker cold months.  Grown specimens resist to -4°C for a short time, but it is best to keep above 0° C to avoid ugly spots on the plant's epidermis.
Propagation: By vegetative propagation grafting or stem cuttings from adult plants.

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.