Stetsonia
Family: Cactaceae
Habitat: North West Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay
Cultivation: Stetsonia is not difficult to cultivate but has a very slow growth. In winter it should be sheltered, but can withstand short frosts if planted directly in the soil and if there are no traces of humidity.
Curiosity: It was named in honor of Francis Lynde Stetson, a lawyer from New York, who lived between the second half of the 1800s and the early 1900s, and a great botanist passionate.
STETSONIA KEY FEATURES
The genus Stetsonia includes a single species of cactus, Stetsonia Coryne. They are columnar cactus with dark green or blue green stems, covered with 8-10 medium-sized ribs along which there are areolas with long and robust thorns, which give to the plants the nicknamed of “toothpick cactus”. They have a very branched structure that becomes more evident with the growing age of the plants. The flowers are large up to 15 cm., funnel-shaped and white. They grow laterally but close to the top of the stem (or rather, of each branch) and open only at night. Stetsonia are slow growth cacti, but with age they can reach very large dimensions: up to 10 meters high in nature, with stem diameters of even half a meter.
VARIETIES AND TYPES
Stetsonia coryne, the only species of this genus, is also available in crushed form.
TIPS FOR GROWING
Aporocactus is often cultivated in pots to create beautiful effects with its falling branches. Here are our cultivation tips:
- EXPOSURE: Choose a position in the sun to get the best crop results.
- TEMPERATURE: They can withstand temperatures up to 5 ° C. During winter it is therefore preferable to move them to a sheltered place.
- WATERING: Water moderately in spring and summer: 1-2 times a week, depending on the temperature, taking care that the soil is well dry between the watering. You will see if the plant thirsts from the loss of turgor of the stems. Suspend entirely in winter.
- SOIL: The soil must be extremely light, rich in sand or lapillo. A standard ground for cactacea, mixed with a bit of extra sand, will be perfect.
- CONCIMATION: Beginning spring fertilize with a specific product for cactacea.
- REPOT: Every 1-2 years, be careful not to damage the thin blades.
- REPRODUCTION: The easiest method for multiplication of Aporocactus is the branch cuttings. Cut the apex of the stems (5-10 cm in length) and immerse them in a very sandy soil, taking care to let the wound dry.
