Cactus Espostoa Lanata

Espostoa Lanata, also known as old man from Peru, originates from Ecuador, but we can also find it in Bolivia and, indeed, Peru. It has a bush and very branched shape from the base, eventually branching up the top, but it takes a few years before this does not happen and, surprisingly, it can reach five meters in height. If it is a specimen of considerable height, it can be confused with Cleistocactus Strausii (the silver torch) for its structural resemblance.

Each cylinder that exits is completely erect and is between six and twelve centimeters in diameter. The ribs that can easily be seen in small specimens and are difficult to see when they are large plants, due to this peculiar oldness surrounding them. They are between eighteen and twenty-five and do not stand very high, between five and eight millimeters high and with a separation between them of ten millimeters. Never trust these hairs, because right below are hidden some long and sharp spines that will play a bad move if you are not careful.

We must be a little lucky to see the flowers, because they arise at night, at the top between oldness and they are shaped like funnels. They last for almost nothing, because unfortunately they die the next day and hide behind laxness. They are five to six centimeters long by four in diameter, usually purple or white, making them characteristic for color and shape. The flowering leaves from summer to autumn, and only if the plant is adult, then small, sweet and juicy berries of at most three centimeters will emerge.

To conclude, it just has to be said that it needs exposure in full sun, it can sustain high temperatures without any problems, rather than exposing it to a minimum of seven positive degrees whenever there is moisture or five positive degrees if the climate is dry. It must be irrigated regularly, especially when flowering (note, between summer and autumn), the best water that does not touch the body of the cactus. The rest of the time you have to irrigate, don’t put a lot of water at once or the base of the plant is rotting and will die.