Saguaro Cactus Care

When you think of saguaro cactus, the first thing that comes to your mind is its attractive columnar stalk and the bluish wax film on it. The scientific name of saguaro cactus is Carnegiea gigantea. You may be surprised to know that it is actually a giant sized cactus species which is found in Sonoran Desert of Arizona, California and Mexico. It can grow up to a height of 40-60 feet. The lifespan of this cactus is 200 years or more. However, its growth rate is very slow. In the first 10 years, it will hardly grow up to 6 inches and not more than that. Its first pink blooms can be seen after 35 years and sprouts appear after 70-75 years. So, it can be kept as a house plant for years before it gets its giant structure. It can be grown both outdoors as well as indoors. Saguaro cactus care in both cases are more or less the same.

How to Care for a Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro cactus is grown from seeds. The soil for growing saguaro cactus should have a good drainage. It consists of one part of potting mix, one part sand and one part of coarse gravel. Put the soil in a small or medium-sized pot. Make a hole one-eighth inch deep in the soil, place a seed into it and put a pinch of soil over it. Sparingly water the soil and wrap it up tightly with plastic sheet. After the seeds are planted, you have to follow the steps given below for proper saguaro cactus care:

Light and Temperature Requirements
The newly planted seeds of saguaro should be kept in cover for 4-6 weeks. During this time, you have to place the pot in one such area where it can receive bright light but avoid any direct sun exposure for the time being. This cactus plant needs full sun for proper growth. Saguaro grows well in hot or moderate temperatures throughout the year. In the arid climate zone, this plant can be kept outdoors all year round. However, in temperate climate, where the winter temperature goes to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant should be brought indoors to avoid freeze damage.

Water Requirements
In the first 6 weeks of planting saguaro seeds, you should water the soil lightly after a gap of 10 days. Later on, in the growing season (that is, from spring to summer), you have to water the cactus generously once in a month. There is a simple test to check whether you need to water the cactus or not. Press the skin of the cactus with your finger. If a dent is formed on its surface, then it suggests the cactus need some watering. However, when the skin is firm it is an indication, that you need not water the plant. In winter months, cactus becomes dormant and no watering is required.

Fertilizer Requirement
Saguaro grown outdoors does not require fertilizing at all. However, those which are grown indoors need a low nitrogen fertilizer only during the growing months. You should fertilize the soil after 2-3 months. 5-10-10 fertilizer is best suited for this purpose.

Protection from Pests and Diseases
Saguaro plants tend to get attacked by harmful bacteria that can even cause death of the cactus. The bacterial attack can destroy the living cells of the plant. If it is neglected for long, it may even kill the plant. The visible signs of infection on saguaro cactus are holes on its trunk. Check out the plant regularly for any such hole. If you find any, cut it off with the help of a knife and put some sulfur on that spot. This is an effective treatment for the bacterial infection.

The important thing that you must have for growing saguaro cactus is a lot of patience. This is because it will grow hardly up to an inch in one year. If you do not have that much of patience for growing cactus from seeds, then you can bring small-sized saguaro cactus plants from a nursery and keep them as outdoor or indoor plants.