Are you planning to grow a cactus at your home? Have you heard of the Mexican fence post cactus? It can be a fence to your home garden. To know more about this cactus, keep on reading this article.
Pachycereus marginatus is a species that belongs to the Cactaceae family. Mexican fence post cactus is originally grown in southern Mexico.
The growth rate of the Mexican fence post cactus is high. Some watering and full sunlight help this plant to grow in a beautiful columnar cactus.
The pinkish-red flowers are really attractive and change the vibe of your garden. Mexican fence post cacti are sometimes used as a fence that is why it is called so. It looks really pretty in the garden.
I am very excited to share every detail of this cactus. Let’s have a crisp discussion about Mexican fencepost cactus. Keep on reading till the end.
How to identify?
The flowers produced by this plant are of a tubular shape and the fruits are red in color with black seeds.
The spines at the center of its ribs are of a yellowish hue while the ribs have a greenish tinge. The Pachycereus marginatus is also sometimes referred to as the crested Mexican fence post cactus due to its big & crested form.
Now, why do we call it a fence cactus? The cactus grows very tall and features like a long pipe and due to its columnar structure, it is used as a live fence often and therefore the name.
The fact that it also develops many arms during its life makes it an obvious choice for being a natural fence for rural places. If you visit the villages of Mexico you will get to see this natural fence in the exact form I have referred to here.
Why buy this cactus?
If you are a pro-gardener then I don’t think I have to tell you why you should buy a cactus. From the beginners’ point of view, I will be sharing a few reasons why should you buy cactus.
- First of all, the cactus looks small and cute and requires less space to grow.
- Cacti are easy to care for.
- A mixture of a succulent mix, perlite, and limestone can grow a cactus plant.
- Growing cacti in your home will keep the air fresh and toxins-free and will make you feel relaxed.
Now, I will be telling you why you should specifically buy Mexican fence post cactus.
Mexican fence post cactus can grow really tall. This cactus grows slowly but up to 3.7m and can reach up to 6.1m. The shape of the plant makes it fall in the category of columnar cactus, fence cactus has its stem growing up to 9 – 10 cm in diameter and the ribs to 13 – 14 cm.
If you are fascinated by tall plants this cactus is perfect for you. The stems are slightly yellow in color.
Mexican fence post cactus flower is pinkish-red in color and looks very beautiful when it blooms. Also, notably Mexican fence post cactus fruits are edible to birds.
Their cutting is sometimes used as a fence, which is why is commonly known as Mexican fence post cactus. This is some basic information regarding Mexican fence post cactus.
You must be wondering how fast do Mexican fence post cacti grow. Let me tell you, it does not require high maintenance to grow. But if you keep it outdoor instead of indoor it grows slightly faster.
Mexican fence post cactus is a low-maintained cactus that makes the caring process hassle-free. In the latter half, I will be detailing the caring process of the Mexican fence post cactus.
Where can I buy these cute cacti?
Now you must be wondering where you can find Mexican fence post cactus for sale. For buying Mexican fence post cactus, home depot can be an option. You can also look for them in some popular websites like Amazon, Etsy, Nurseylive, and Plantsguru.
You can also find Mexican fence post cactus seeds on these websites.
Looking for the Mexican fence post cactus for sale in Australia? Do not worry! These websites will ship you at a minimal cost. If you are lucky enough to grab a deal you can get it for free even. Exciting deals are complementary to the great quality of cacti you are getting.
How to take care of these cacti?
The caring process of every cactus is more or less the same. Here, I am going to elaborately tell you how to care Mexican fence post cactus specifically. It is not as difficult as you are thinking right now.
Let’s find out what are the requirements to grow Mexican fence post cactus healthy.
Light Requirements
This is basically an outdoor plant. So, in the warm months of summer, you can keep it outside to let it enjoy full and direct sunlight. It is a desert plant so it can tolerate harsh sunlight too.
If you are planning the Mexican fence post cactus indoors, place them where it could get bright sunlight. Winter is the time of this plant’s dormancy. At that time, leave it alone.
Temperature
The Fence post cactus can live in low temperatures like 25ºF as well as in high temperatures like 50 ºF. A dry and rough environment is ideal for growing this cactus.
Mexican fence post cactus frost tolerance ranges in medium to high category. But if you leave the plant in extreme conditions you may risk its life.
Water requirements
As I have mentioned before, this cactus enjoys desert-like conditions. That is why it does not require much watering.
Overwatering can be harmful to it. Too much watering can rot in the roots and stem. Misting the leaves would be a fine option.
You may choose to water it once a week or you can only water it when the soil feels dry. You do not have to water it during the winter months.
Soil & Humidity
The soil should be well-drained. A mixture of sand, perlite, and limestone will work fine. Because it promotes drainage. This cactus can also grow with the rocks surrounding them.
Mexican fence post cactus can withstand strong heat and dry air. So, moisture and humidity are not suitable for the growth of this cactus. 30% moisture level is for its growth.
Fertilizers
Fertilizer requirements-Generally, these cacti are considered tall cactus plants. That means the Mexican fence post cactus growth rate is high. It grows fast and fertilizing it will accelerate its growth even faster. In summer, it grows really fast. So, fertilizing it at this time will be beneficial to you.
Fertilizers should contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Using fertilizer is optional. If you are a gardener out of passion you can totally rely on its natural growth. But if you are a professional gardener using fertilizer would be beneficial to you.
Propagation of the cactus
Propagation is the process of growing a plant from an existing plant. You can grow Mexican fence post cactus indoors or outdoors. Either you can buy seeds or saplings from the market or you can simply propagate a plant on your own.
Let’s learn the process of Mexican fence post cactus propagation.
- Clean your cutting tools like sharp knives and razors. Also, use a disinfectant to avoid introducing any kind of diseases and fungus.
- Mexican fence post cactus contains small and sharp spines. Wear gloves to protect your fingers and hands.
- Choose a healthy stem for cutting. Avoid discolored stems. Cut the stem with sterile knives and cutting tools.
- Leave the Mexican fence post cactus cuttings for drying in the air for a few days to heal the wounds. Do not leave in direct sunlight.
- You can dip cutting in the hormone for better rooting. This step is optional.
- Before planting Mexican fence post cactus prepare the potting mix. You can buy it for the market or you can simply prepare it at home by mixing sand, pumice, and limestone. 1/3 of the cutting should be in the soil if you plant it perpendicularly.
- Water it daily for a few weeks before rooting. After the establishment of roots, water it once a week or whenever it feels dry.
- Avoid harsh sunlight during propagation. Place it somewhere it could get bright sunlight. Once the roots are established place them where you want to place them.
Potting & Repotting
Now, it is time to deliver a brief instruction about the potting and re-potting process of Mexican fence post cactus by using some household stuff.
You can get a huge variety of fancy mixing pots in the market but before buying those check them carefully, are well-drained or not.
You can also make your own pots in your home according to your needs. You should repot the plant after 2 years because the soil loses all its nutrients over time. And sometimes the roots of the plant are tangled up inside the pot or even growing out of the holes.
- At first, remove the plant from the pot.
- Secondly, remove soil from the roots very carefully.
- Then, place the biggest stem in the center or wherever you like to place it. Do not place it at the edge.
- Lastly, fill up the pot with the soil mix and keep it in your garden.
Find the benefits of re-potting here.
Disease and Pest Control
Now, I am going to discuss about Mexican fence post cactus problems. Cactus often get diseases due to lack of caring. Now, I will highlight some of the common diseases it could get and will share how you can avoid or cure these diseases.
- Etiolation/sunburn/phototoxicity- Due to excessive exposure to direct sunlight.
- Desiccation- Due to lack of watering.
- Frost Damage- Due to freezing temperature.
- Pot Bound/Root Bound-Due to the absence of repotting
- Corking- Cactus turned brown due to the dryness and harsh sunlight.
Do not get stressed out. If you take good care of your Mexican fence post cactus religiously, then your cactus will be fine. These diseases will never affect your cactus if you simply follow the previously mentioned methods.
Thrips, Aphids, Worms/Caterpillars, Nematodes, Red Spider Mite, Cochineal insects, Slugs, and snails are some of the pests that can affect your Mexican fence post cactus.
You can use natural insecticides like neem oil in order to prevent their coming.
People sometimes enquire – why is my Mexican fence post cactus turning yellow? Well, the reason for your Mexican fence post cactus turning yellow can be a poor watering routine. The solution is to change the soil and re-pot it into a bigger pot where the water can circulate well.
Toxicity
In the world of succulents and cacti, most of the cacti are non-toxic but some of them are toxic. But the cacti which I have suggested most them are non-toxic in nature.
Mexican fence post cactus is not poisonous but they cannot be tagged as fully safe. The small spines can be really dangerous to your children as well as your pets.
Keep the pot in a safe place where your pets and children could not come in contact with your cactus.
On the other hand, your pets can also damage your beautiful Mexican fence post cactus, so keep it in a safe place. If any bugs have colonized, that could be dangerous for your children & pets even.
Conclusion
I think by now you have gained enough knowledge about Mexican fence post cactus. I have explained all the caring and growing processes step by step in a very simple way after a close observance.
I tried my best to make this article as informative as possible. The caring and propagating process is very simple. You have to be a little patient in order to get the best result. Keep the pot in your garden to get a better result.
Mexican fence post cactus is a tall cactus that will give a structured look to your garden and can totally change the vibe of your home and garden. Buy your cactus from the above-mentioned websites to get amazing deals. Grab the sale now.
I hope this article is helpful for you. I guess I made the task of searching easier for you. I am sure you will not regret buying it. Keep all the safety precautions in your mind before buying Mexican fence post cactus. Follow the guidelines while buying it.