Cleistocactus winteri

Golden Rat's Tail Cactus

Cleistocactus winteri is a branching cactus with spreading, arching, pendant, or trailing stem that can grow up to 40 inches (1 m) long and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. It has many short bristly golden spines that literally cover the surface of the stems. Flowers are vivid orange to salmon-pink, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long, up to 2 inches (5 cm) across and very showy. They are repetitively and freely produced on mature plants in spring and summer and can last for several days.

Contributed by @mrsflowerpot

plant Features

Full sun
Very little water
Not Frost hardy
Light and free draining

plant information

Common name

Golden Rat's Tail Cactus

Latin name

Cleistocactus winteri

type

Succulent

family

Cactaceae

ph

5.5 - 6.5 Acid - Neutral

Light

Full sun
Frost

Not Frost hardy

Soil

Light and free draining
Water

Very little water

Plant & bloom calendar

Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Golden Rats Tail Cactus is 0.60meters x 1.00meters

0.60 M 1.00 M

Cleistocactus winteri

Planting young plants

From Early Spring TO Early Spring

Cleistocactus typically don't like direct afternoon sunlight and should be in partial shade through the hottest hours. They can take direct sunlight in the morning and afternoons. A rich, fast-draining cactus mix is ideal. To plant, do this preferably during the warm season. To repot a cacti, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.

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