Synonyms:

No synonyms are recorded for this species name.

Habitat:

Trichocereus cv. multiproliferum is a nursery cultivar and thus doesn’t exist in nature. It is a hardy cultivar that thrives in arid and semi-arid regions. It is able to survive prolonged periods of drought by storing water in its thick stems. The species is also known to be tolerant to high levels of radiation, making it a suitable candidate for phytoremediation of contaminated soils.

Description:

Trichocereus cv. multiproliferum is a unique and hardy cultivar that is well adapted to its natural habitat. It is a great addition to any garden, especially for those with a passion for cacti and succulent plants. It can grow up to 4 meters tall and 20 cm wide, but, in nurseries, the dwarf forms are the ones usually available, and they stay much smaller. It has a columnar growth habit, with a bunch of erect, large stem, that pronouncedly ribbed and green in color. The stem is covered with small, white spines and has a diameter of up to 10 cm. Spines grow radially and pointing in all directions from ball-shaped, white areoles. Areoles are the typical buds of cacti, able to differentiate spines. The roots of this plant are shallow and widespread, allowing it to absorb as much water as possible during the rare periods rainfalls. The branching attitude is sympodial, with the new branches growing out from the base of the stem. This cactus produces large, white to pinkish-white flowers that bloom in the summer and can reach up to 20 cm in diameter. The flowers are pollinated by a variety of insects and birds. The fruit of the cactus is a small, red berry that contains small black seeds. The seeds are dispersed by birds and other animals that consume the fruit. In cultivation conditions, they are usually removed or if anything, used to reproduce the plant.

Cultivation:

Cultivating and propagating Trichocereus cv. multiproliferum is easy as they are summer growers and do not pose any cultivation difficulties. They thrive in a rich, airy, porous growing medium that mainly consists of non-organic materials such as clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a small amount of peat or leaf-mould. If potted, they should be repotted in the spring if their roots have become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year to provide fresh soil, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they need larger containers. To promote good drainage, fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Water regularly in summer but avoid overwatering, and let the soil dry out between waterings. Keep them rather dry in winter and make sure no water is allowed to stand around the roots. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. For exposure, they need a bright location with full sun or half shade in summer if the location is excessively hot or bright. Inside, they need bright light and some direct sun, and can tolerate moderate shade. If a plant has been growing in shade, it should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as it will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade to sun. They require light frost protection for safe cultivation, but are somewhat frost resistant if kept dry. These plants need a period of cool rest in winter to produce flowers abundantly. Watch out for infestations of mealybug, scale insects, and spider mite.

Propagation:

Propagation is easy as they can be propagated from cuttings. The cuttings will take root at a minimum temperature of 20°C. Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer, cut them with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or more (depending on the thickness of the cutting) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only to prevent the cut end from becoming too wet and allow the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.

Curiosity:

The name “Trichocereus multiproliferum” has a quite interesting etymology. The genus name “Trichocereus” comes from the Greek word “trichos” meaning “hair” and “cereus” meaning “wax-like” or “candle”, likely referring to the hair-like spines found on many species in this genus. The species name “multiproliferum” comes from the Latin words “multi” meaning “many” and “proliferum” meaning “producing many offspring”, likely referring to the plant’s ability to produce many offsets or offsets.
This name refers to the plant’s characteristic of producing many offsets and its hairy spines, making it a quite descriptive name for the species.

Official Web Site:
www.giromagi.com

Italian Blog:
www.giromagicactus.com

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