Size: Up to 9 feet tall, but often 3 to 4 feet. Shrub growth form; up to 1 foot tall; 2 to 4 inch diameter trunk; 2 to 6 inch long joints; sparsely to densely branched plants. Leaves: Leaves with glochids or spines that emerge from areoles.
Care Guide
Water
The drought-tolerant pencil cholla doesn’t need to be watered frequently. When the soil is entirely dry, water it well. When watering a pot, water slowly, wait for water to drip from the bottom, and then pour the extra water from the tray to prevent water buildup. Its three main growing seasons are spring, summer and autumn. To keep the soil just a little bit moist, water once or twice every week.
Water the soil only enough to prevent it from drying out too much over the winter, usually once a week. Additionally, use distilled or rainwater instead of tap water. Calcium, magnesium, and other mineral salts are abundant in tap water. Compaction of the soil is often brought on by prolonged use. When watering, avoid sprinkling water on the stem to avoid rotting.
Fertilizer
Pencil cholla needs to be fertilized once a month with liquid fertilizer during the growing seasons (spring, summer and autumn). Wintertime doesn’t call for fertilizer. When repotting in the spring or autumn, a tiny amount of slow-release fertilizer can be thoroughly incorporated into the soil.
Temperature
The pencil cholla is found in tropical, subtropical, and semi-desert areas that experience little precipitation, intense sunlight, and high temperatures. 20 to 35 °C is the ideal temperature for growth. Temperatures below 10 °C or above 35 °C cause development to stall and dormancy to start. The surroundings should be well-ventilated and the air humidity shouldn’t be too high. Avoid accumulating water and high humidity.
Soil
The ideal soil conditions for pencil cholla are fertile, gravel-rich, water-permeable, and pH values of 6-7. 60% vermiculite + 20% sandy soil+ 20% coco coir or peat moss is a common culture soil composition. You might also add a tiny bit of organic potting soil. To increase the soil’s air permeability, lightweight culture media like vermiculite can be applied. To improve soil fertility, you can also add eggshell powder or vermicompost.
Sunlight
As a heliophilic plant, pencil cholla requires enough sunlight to grow and blossom. It may be positioned on a balcony or in an open area of a garden.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary much for pencil cholla. Remove dead branches and blooms to allow the plant to focus its resources on nutrient-rich growth.
Table
