Description
This is one the best Trichocereus (x Aporotrichocereus aporocandicans) cultivar hybridized by Robert Gräser. It has been obtained crossing ‘Gräsers Vermächtnis F1 x SCIGRA F2 (dark red)’. “Gräsers Schönste” (litterally “Gräsers’s most beautiful”) is unquestionably the most beautiful and most sought “Aporocandicans” (Aporocactus flagelliformis x Trichocereus candicans) multi hybrids. The name was given by Mr. Karl Eckert in agreement with Robert Gräsers. Robert Gräsers describes this hybrid and its genesis in detail in Kakteen und andere Sukkulenten 1967 ( 9).
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced hybrid)
Cultivation and Propagation
Trichocereus hybrids are very easy to grow and cold tolerant, as low as -5°C (or less depending on clone). They need a fertile, well drained soil mix. Water the plants well and allow them to dry before watering again. This cultivars seem to do better with a little more water than most cacti. In fact, their cultivation requirements are really more like ‘normal’ plants than most other cacti. During the growing season fertilize them monthly with a balanced fertilizer
Sun Exposure: Outside full sun, but during hot summers the cactus are subject to sun burning, so grow them in light shade. Inside they need bright light, and some direct sun. During winter months, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter, as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light. They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. They tend characteristically towards black rotted spots unless watering is moderate and only in hot weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
This plants produces large amounts of growth each year if kept well fed and watered throughout the warmest months, particularly if they have been acclimatised to accept full sun. Once these cactus are established they can easily produce 10cm (or more) of growth every year.
Propagation: By cutting.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
- Robert Gräser “Zwei schöne Hybriden” in “Kakteen und andere sukkulenten” 1957(9).
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