🔥 Q-Tip 🔥- Olivia x Sharxx Blue – Cuttings

Origin and Habitat

Q-Tip is a relatively new kid on the block and is a clone that really delivers on the hype. Q-Tip was originally seed from Misplant and is a hybrid Trichocereus pachanoi ‘Olivia’ and Trichocereus peruvianus ‘Sharxx Blue’ and was distributed by a US grower named Kim Donaldson.

This clone goes melty and presents a stable geometric formation (who doesn’t love some geometrics :-)). The ‘Q-Tip’ clone is notable for its unique “melty” or monstrose growth habit, with few areoles (the points where spines emerge) and sparse spines. Younger growth may have some areoles with spines and some without, while older growth patterns vary.

Growing Requirements:

Trichocereus are relatively easily grown in the UK, especially due to the fact that they do not require massive amounts of sunlight. As most cacti grown in the UK, they are best grown in a greenhouse or conservatory (grow tents are also used for younger plants), South facing is a distinct advantage.

Watering

Watering from Spring (April) to beginning of Autumn (End September). Depending on what kind of summer we get will depend on how frequent you need to water, but, less is better with cacti. During the winter months, little to no watering is required or the roots could rot (they do not like to be wet for long periods).

Substrate

In warmer climates, you could go for a more nutrient rich mixture (50% organic / 50% inorganic). But, in the UK, it is best to err more on the side of inorganic (60% – 70% inorganic) to ensure the pot is drained quickly.

Some Additional Info

Trichocereus (except for bridgesii / Bolivian Torch) are very hardy and weather tolerant. Trichocereus pachanoi can handle temps as low as -9c for very short periods.

Native to South America, the earliest evidence of San Pedro was found in Peru, specifically, the Guitarrero cave of the Callejón de Huaylas valley. They are natively found in the Andes Mountains at altitude levels around 2000m – 3000m. San Pedro (the class of Trichocereus) is also found in regions like Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Trichocereus pachanoi are night bloomers with these gorgeous flowers doing their thing at night, you have to be quick or you will miss the event :-). A flower event is a special event as it can take anywhere from 5 years to 8 years for an adult plant to produce a flower. When they do, you do your happy dance, thank the cactus Gods, snap a million pics, harvest the pollen, and wait for the next event.

Synonyms

• Echinopsis pachanoi
• San Pedro Cactus
• Wachuma

Synonyms

• Echinopsis peruviana
• Peruvian Torch cactus
• Wachuma
• San Pedro Macho
• Huachuma
• Trichocereus pachanoi f. peruvianus
• Trichocereus tacnaensis