Trichocereus pachanoi ‘San Pedro’ (cactus)

Description

Trichocereus pachanoi is a South American columnar cactus species used traditionally for divining/healing purposes. Named after Professor Aberlardo Pachano who travelled with Dr. Rose, the original western collector, in 1918 (Trout, 2005). Native to mountainous areas of Ecuador and Peru (between 1500m and 2700m). The common name refers to Saint Peter, who guards the gates of heaven.

The Trichocereus genus has been merged by taxonomists into the Echinopsis genus (now called Echinopsis pachanoi). Not many cacti experts agree on this merger.

An upright species to 6 metres tall. Also an excellent grafting stock, we consider it better than Myrtillocactus geometrizans and more tolerant and longer lived than Hylocereus sp. (although not as fast). More robust and adaptable than Pereskiopsis sp. but considerably slower, albeit longer lived.

One clone is known by enthusiasts as PC (AKA Fields), or the predominant cultivar of T. pachanoi that occurs in Australia. I received my cuts of this cactus from Fields Cactus Farm, where the proprieter Robert informs me the that he recieved the plant in the 50’s but is not sure where from. Alot of the plants out there come from Ritter and it does suit the time frame to be from him. Interestingly the plant looks exactly the same as the Trichocereus Pachanoi: (Br.&R.) FR 567 from the Chan Chan Valley Ecuador. Taken from trichoseriousethnobotany.

Care and Cultivation of Trichocereus pachanoi

San Pedro likes a well drained potting mix (just a normal plant mix, it doesn’t have to be a cacti blend) and a full sun position. Coming from mountainous regions, it thrives in Southern Australia and also through subtropical Australia. Apply fertiliser in spring and throughout the year, less to zero in winter/cold periods. Trichocereus species can be watered most of the year in all climates. Cold and drought hardy, frost tolerant.

1 cactus cutting or seedling (700-120mm long tip) you will receive a T. pachanoi cutting or seedling of 1 of the different clones, eg. Fields, Matucana, Pomachanka, LMP, etc depending on availability.