The Cereus Jamacaru (also known as the Pleated Cereus) is a cactus that can grow as large as a tree and are happy to live both inside and outside as long as they get lots of direct light. This cactus can be easily propagated and grown from cuttings, and in this guide, I will explain the steps you need to take.
How to propagate a cereus jamacaru from a cutting
Time to grow roots 60 days
Prepare Your Cutting
You first need to get a cutting from the ‘mother’ plant. If you have a sharp knife you can use this to get a cutting.
Otherwise, you can just use your hands (be careful of the spikes) and twist and bend the cactus until it gives way and snaps off.
For best propagation results and to reduce the chance of the cutting rotting, place the cereus jamacaru cutting out of direct sunlight for 3 to 7 days. My cutting was very large (1 metre /3 feet long) so I waited the full 7 days to make sure the end of the cactus had properly dried out before potting it.
Prepare Your Area
You will need to gather all of the required tools for the job. This includes:
(1) A pot
(2) Some cactus potting mix
(3) Your cutting
Fill the Pot With the Cactus Potting Mix
Fill the pot with the cactus potting mix up to two-thirds of the way to the top.
An extra step I take is to also cover the holes in the bottom of the pot with a bit of green mesh to (1) stop the potting mix from falling out of the holes and (2) allow the water to drain freely out of the pot.
Plant the Cereus Jamacaru Cutting
Position the cereus jamacaru in the middle of the pot. While holding it in place fill up the rest of the pot with your cactus potting mix. As you work around the pot make sure you firm up the soil with your hand. This will help keep the cereus jamacaru cutting firm in place.
Water Your Cereus Jamacaru Cutting
Give the cutting a really good deep water to help kick off the root growth process.
Cereus jamacaru prefer drier soil and once the cutting is established you won’t need to water this plant very often.
Once watered place the pot somewhere away from as much direct sunlight as possible. It will still need to receive ambient light though to help encourage root growth.
Supply:
- Cactus potting mix
- Water
Tools:
- A sharp knife
- Plastic grow pot
Pleated Cereus Cutting Progress (After 78 Days)
I was interested to see how the cereus jamacaru cuttings had progressed so after 78 days I de-potted the smaller cutting to see how it was progressing.
To de-pot this cereus jamacaru cutting, I tipped it onto its side and pulled it out while loosening up the potting mix by squeezing the sides of the pot.
The below photo shows the root growth progress of a cereus jamacaru cutting after over 2 months of growth.
Final Thoughts
Cactuses are a very easy plant to propagate, and this one is no different. I hope you have success with your cutting and feel free to send any feedback.
FAQs
Can You Grow a Cereus Jamacaru from Seed?
Yes, you can grow a cereus jamacaru from seeds saved from the fruit of the plant. Simply remove the seed from the fruit, and when the conditions are right (temperatures between 59°F/15°C to 95°F/35°C) they should only take 1 to 2 months to germinate.
The success rate of growing these plants from seeds is low which is why I recommend that if possible you propagate these plants from stem cuttings, as shown in this guide.
How Frequently Should I Water My Cereus Jamacaru Cutting?
Until the cutting is established with its own roots and able to support itself, you should water the cutting every 1-2 weeks. Once established you will only need to water these plants once every 1-2 months.
