With gorgeous blooms in festive hues, Christmas cactus makes a popular holiday gift. The exotic-looking flowers open just in time for the holidays and provide weeks of color. Christmas cacti are long-lived plants, blooming year after year in shades of red, purple, peach, and white. Learn how to care for a Christmas cactus so you can enjoy these holiday beauties for years to come.
How to Grow and Care for Old Man Cactus Indoors
12.06.2023 - 01:04 / gardenerspath.com / Nan Schiller
How to Grow and Care for Old Man Cactus Indoors Cephalocereus senilisIf you are looking for a unique specimen for your houseplant collection, let me introduce you to Cephalocereus senilis, aka “old man cactus,” so named for its covering of white “hair.”
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The first time I saw one was in the desertscape conservatory exhibit at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. It brought back a cozy memory of a furry googly-eyed toy my sister and I used to brush daily as kids.
However, the similarity stops there because beneath the cuddly cuteness of old man cactus lie sharp spines, the modified leaves of desert cacti. I caution you at the outset to handle this prickly plant with care!
C. senilis is suited to outdoor cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 and 10. This article discusses all you need to know to grow it indoors in all regions.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Let’s get started!
What Is Old Man Cactus?Old man cactus is endemic to eastern regions of Mexico. It is endangered in its native habitat, but commercial cultivation ensures a ready supply of plants that have not been sourced from the wild for home gardeners.
Sometimes referred to as “old man of Mexico,” slow-growing C. senilis has a blue-green column-shaped branchless stem. Clusters of columns sprout side by side.
Shallow ribs run up the length of the column. Along the ribs are symmetrically arranged areoles from which three to five sharp yellow central spines protrude. These spines are modified leaves suited to harsh desert conditions.
Overlaying the central spines are soft and long radial spines that cover the stem in silvery-white to white “hair.” They
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