Selenicereus testudo occurs in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In Costa Rica the species is found in tropical dry deciduous forests in Guanacaste; in Guatemala it occurs in Izabal and Petén; in Honduras it is distributed in Atlándida, Cortés and Francisco Morazán; it occurs in tropical dry, moist, flooded, gallery, and riparian forests in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Yucatán; and in Estelí in Nicaragua. It is found at elevations from 50 to 1300 m above sea level...
Selenicereus testudo also called as Dog tail cactus, Cereus miravallensis, Cereus testudo, Deamia diabolica, Deamia testudo, Selenicereus miravallensis, Strophocactus testudo, is a species of the genus Selenicereus. This species was described by Franz Buxbaum in 1965.
IDENTIFY SELENICEREUS TESTUDO
Selenicereus testudo occurs in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In Costa Rica the species is found in tropical dry deciduous forests in Guanacaste; in Guatemala it occurs in Izabal and Petén; in Honduras it is distributed in Atlándida, Cortés and Francisco Morazán; it occurs in tropical dry, moist, flooded, gallery, and riparian forests in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Yucatán; and in Estelí in Nicaragua. It is found at elevations from 50 to 1300 m above sea level.
It is a epiphytic or terrestrial cactus with climbing or creeping shoots, that has long, at a young age narrow, mature become broad and thick, divided into segments stem and 3-5 ribs.
This cactus blooms in mid summer with white, large, 21-26 cm in diameter flowers and produces purple in color, covered with spines fruits.
SELENICEREUS TESTUDO CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Temperature:
In summer, this cactus can be grown outdoors by placing a pot near the wall so that the cactus can use it as a support. Wintering at a temperature of about 15 ° C.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
The soil must be well drained, it is best to use a mixture consisting of two parts of sand, one part of clay, one part of peat and one part of gravel.
Watering:
In summer the watering is regular, in winter rare. Excessive watering can lead to decay of the roots of the cactus. It is necessary that the soil dries up between waterings.
Grow from seeds:
Cactus seedlings are very fragile on the first weeks and survival depends on how they are treated on that crucial stage; out of 100 of seeds in the wild only a few survive to an adult plant to produce seeds and start the cycle again. Obtaining a high percentage of adult plants from a batch of seedlings, depends on how each collector takes care of their seedlings.
Water for seedlings is the most important item to keep them growing for first few weeks. Generally, most seedlings, which are 1 week old will die after 3 days of dryness. 2 month-old seedlings can survive for 1 week if allowed to dry. 6 month-old seedlings can survive for 2 months if allowed to dry. 1 year-old seedlings can survive for 5 months if allowed to dry.
Planting instructions for 4”pot kit: First, clean with water and chlorine plastic pot, clear cover and label and wash with fresh water. Second, the soil can be sterilized for 2 hours at 120º C in an oven or a microwave but can be used without sterilization. Third, fill the pot with soil and spray with distilled, reverse osmosis or pure rainwater to let soil flatten at the top. Fourth, place to 1/8 to 1/4 inch layer of Dyna Rock or crushed sea shell extra fine on top to cover the soil making a layer between soil and seeds. Fifth, place seeds over the Dyna Rock and fine spray water the seeds well and cover with a clearcover.
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