Trichocereus Pasacana is an ornamental columnar cactus native to highly-elevated areas of Argentina and Bolivia. Covered with spines, its dark green stem, takes on a wooly appearance with age. In maturity, it will also branch out and adopt a tree-like form. Its flowers are large, usually about six inches, and are pinkish-white. The fruit it produces is edible, and its cores have been used to make rain sticks.

Growing Information: Seeds should be germinated in a fine sandy soil at about 70-75 degrees. A commercial potting mix with the larger material strained out is ideal. Flatten out the soil and then put a thin layer of loose soil above it. Sow the seeds on the surface and press in very lightly. They need light to germinate. Mist the soil to keep it moist and cover with clear plastic. Ideally, the covering should not be flat across the top because it will cause the water to drip back on the young seedlings, which sometimes causes rot. Something like a sandwich bag often makes a better “tent” because the water will run down the sides more easily. The soil should not be allowed to dry out while the plants are seedlings. Use a mister if the soil does get dry. Place the seedlings on a heat mat (ideally) and in bright light. Placing the seeds just a few inches from fluorescent lights is ideal for starting seedlings, although natural light will work too. Note that using a heat mat will cause more evaporation, which may require more attention. Be sure to air out the seedlings once a day for best results.