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Myrtillocactus Geometrizans ( mir - til - oh - KAK - tus , jee - oh - MET - rih - zans ) cactus is a member of the Cactaceae family live for its dramatic blue - dark-green stems .
The specie is also known by the scientific names of :
Myrtillocactus geometrizans with its candelabra like tree cactus
Blue Vinca minor - cactus is a member of the family line Cactaceae and the best - known species of the genus Myrtillocactus .
Myrtillocactus geometrizans is native to northern and central Mexico down to Oaxaca , where it is widespread in tropical deciduous woodland and xerophilous scrubbing . It is also prevalent in the Chihuahuan desert .
Myrtillocactuscomes from the Grecian Bible myrtillus , which intend minuscule Vinca minor and cactus .
Geometrizans , on the other hand , consult to the geometric marking ( formal pattern ) on the plant .
Due to its grim - green color and growth riding habit , the plant has acquired several vernacular names . The most pop and widely used nicknames are :
Other Popular Columnar succulent let in :
Blue Candle Cactus Care
With the proper blue candle crest cactus care , you ’ll definitely have a healthy and beautiful plant . Here are the face you need to study .
Size and Growth
Myrtillocactus is a tight - growing columniform succulent tree diagram cactus that grow up to 13 ’ to 16 ’ feet tall .
Featuring 2 ” to 4 ” column inch thick blue - green or aristocratic - grey glaucous stem with multiple areoles and 5 to 8 ribs , the plant remains unbranching for a long time . Still , it produces several branches upon maturity , resembling candelabra .
Hence , the unwashed name is down taper .
The stems are succulent and have pocket-sized central spines raise from the areoles .
Upon matureness , the industrial plant display a dense growth of stem , which are extremely ramous and close produce .
In its rude home ground , the pennant of the plant can fan out up to 8 ’ to 12 ’ feet in width .
The tufted blue Vinca minor cactus , or crested blue taper cactus , is a variant or mutated form of Myrtillocactus Geometrizans .
The blue candlestick cactus has a singular crested rooter - like shape or else of its distinctive columniform ontogenesis .
This strange and rare variant , characterize by its rippled emergence , is a dearie in the cactus and succulent community .
Flowering and Fragrance
The columnar candelabrum cactus produces small creamy or light-green - white flowers in bounce after it has grown to about 2 ’ infantry in height .
While the puritanic candela cactus bloom color is initially white , it by and by vary to a dark red bloom .
The showy light-green - white flowers of Myrtillocactus geometrizans are fragrant and pull in pollinators .
Flowering is followed by the production of small dark purple berry - like oblong fruits , which resemble the fruit of Vaccinium myrtillus , called whortleberry or bilberry .
Myrtillocactus geometrizans ’ usual names , European blueberry cactus , and bilberry cactus , are based on this resemblance .
The fruit , known as garambullo , has a angelical spirit and is edible .
Light and Temperature
Like all other cacti and succulents , the blue candle crest cactus require sunshine to grow the right way .
However , do not let out the young plants to take full sun ; keep them in light shade or fond spook until they give maturity and then dislodge to a sunny full sun location .
The wax light cactus plant is only semi - hardy and can only tolerate temperatures down to 25 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( -4 ° C ) .
Protect your Myrtillocactus geometrizans cactus plants from super insensate weather and icing , or they may die .
Due to its hapless wintertime hardiness , do not expose the plant to nighttime temperatures below 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 10 ° nose candy ) to see to it proper increment .
In the United States , blue myrtle is hardy to USDA zona 9a to 11b .
Blue Myrtle Cactus Care: Watering and Feeding
This shrubby cactus species is somewhat drouth - immune but appreciates water in summer . However , it can not digest standing water .
in effect advice for watering Viccinium myrtillus cactus is to water thoroughly once and then let the land dry out before watering again . Also , keep off overhead watering .
Reduce the watering to only a naked lower limit in wintertime to prevent the soil from being cold and wet for prolonged flow , as it can lead to root exit .
For good growth , feed your juicy Vinca minor with a specialized cactus fertilizer once a month during the spring and summertime seasons .
Soil and Transplanting
Bilberry cactus needs a well - drain soil mix as it can not tolerate wet or waterlogged soil .
Adding some crushed rock to the soil can help amend its drainage .
Since the blasphemous candle cactus growth pace is fast and grows to mould big , dense shrubs , they need slew of space to develop and are likely to require repotting almost every other yr .
Grooming and Maintenance
While this candelabra - similar cactus species is easy to mature and does n’t need pruning or too much caution , once established , you must be careful about unclouded exposure and water to control the sound emergence .
The taper cactus plant must also be protect from super cold weather to persist alive .
How to Propagate Myrtillocactus Geometrizans
Blue Vinca minor cactus are either grown from seeds or multiply through stem cuttings in summertime .
pile up seeds from good yield , clear and dry them , and then sow directly into the ground after the end of the frost time of year .
When diffuse from cuttings , countenance their cut surfaces dry out ( indurate ) for 2 to 3 week before planting them into the soil .
Water once and then let the soil dry out before watering again .
Cuttings only take root in warm / hot weather condition .
Myrtillocactus Geometrizans Pest or Diseases
While myrtillocactus geometrizans worry is n’t susceptible to many diseases and pests , it can causefungal diseases like root rotif forget in dampish and poorly drained soil for extended periods of fourth dimension .
aristocratic Vinca minor is attractive to birds , butterfly , bees , and moths .
Blue Myrtillocactus Uses and Recommendations
The columnar cactus Myrtillocactus , , with its dim maturation and boneheaded root word , is a popular cactus coinage for cultivation .
It is widely used as a graft pedigree for cacti plants and for adding ocular interest group to landscapes .
The fruits of the gentle candle peak cactus are wide consumed in Mexico , where it is also grown for commercial purposes .
Several crested clone of Myrtillocactus geometrizans are also available .
