Lophophora Williamsii, popularly known as peyote, is a cactus endemic to the desert areas of Mexico, belonging to the Cactaceae family. It has a globular shape and grows in buds up to 12 cm in diameter. It has a bluish-green colour, although it can also be found in its habitat with reddish tones due to the sun and dust. This unique cactus has no spines, but at maturity it develops a kind of hairy extensions very similar to cotton or white wool.
CAN I GROW PEYOTE AT HOME?
Of course you can. In order to grow peyote at home, there are a few important points to keep in mind: Use a suitable substrate and sterilise the mixture, have a growing box with holes to prevent the roots from rotting, achieve a temperature between 20°C and 30°C, maintain a high humidity and provide sufficient light, but do not expose them directly to the sun. A good idea is to use a fluorescent or tube light for 16 to 18 hours a day.
SEEDS AND GERMINATION
Peyote seeds are black, a bit rough and very small. In our online shop you can get the variety you like best and try your first germination. Once you have everything prepared, you should place and distribute several seeds in the soil and press them very gently using a fine element. Do not place them too deep. Most seeds will germinate within a week or two.
LIGHT, TEMPERATURE AND WATERING
About 3 months after germination, you can place the cacti in indirect sunlight. After their first year of life, they can be placed in direct sunlight. Temperatures can range from 40°C to 3°C. The important thing is that they receive light for most of the day. If temperatures drop below 2°C, we have to protect our plant.
Watering depends on the season: In winter it is better not to water the plant at all and in spring and autumn every 1 or 2 months. In summer, when it is very hot, it can also be watered more often. However, the most important thing is to let the soil dry out between watering.
SOIL AND POTS
Our peyote needs a pure mineral soil with good water permeability to avoid water retention and root rot. To favor root penetration, we should avoid compacted soils. When choosing a pot, make sure it is wide and deep enough. Peyote can form a very deep root.
PEYOTE FLOWER AND ITS REPRODUCTION
Lophophora Williamsii blooms in early summer and has a pink flower. The shade depends very much on the variety. As for propagation, the easiest way is to cut the young seed pods and harvest them. However, before doing so, they should be allowed to dry out for a few days.
With these basic instructions we want to give a small overview of how to grow Lophophora Williamsii.
If growing from seed is not for you, you can also start directly with transplanting one of our young plants.
Comments