Browningia hertlingiana - 3 Arms + Baby - 3 Feet Tall!

Browningia hertlingiana - 3 Arms -  3 Feet Tall!

You will receive this exact specimen.  Rare offering.
This is one of the most striking blue cacti we've ever seen!
Features 3 arms plus a baby and measures 36" tall above the soil line.
This is a massive specimen weighing about 70-90 pounds and will be expensive to ship.
We will contact you for best shipping arrangements.
Roots as shown.
Will be shipped bare root.  

Browningia hertlingiana, also known as the Blue Cereus or Blue Cactus, is a striking and highly sought-after columnar cactus species.

Origin and Habitat:

• Native to the dry Andean forests of southern Peru, specifically the Mantaro Valley and regions of Huancavelica and Ayacucho.
• Thrives in arid and semi-arid environments, growing on rocky, well-draining soils at high altitudes (1800-2000 meters).
• Adapted to challenging conditions with minimal rainfall and extreme temperature variations.
• While relatively abundant in its preferred habitat, human development and agriculture pose a threat due to the limited growing region. 

Physical Characteristics:

• Growth Habit: Treelike, with columnar, few-branched stems that can reach impressive heights of 5-8 meters (16-26 feet).
• Trunk: A single trunk up to 1 meter high, from which several stems arise.
• Stems: Erect, up to 30 cm in diameter, exhibiting a fantastic vivid turquoise blue color when young, transitioning to a pale olive green with age. Requires warm climate and ample light to develop the characteristic blue color.
• Ribs: 18 or more ribs, resolved into tubercles.
• Areoles: Somewhat sunken into the shoots, bearing spines.
• Spines: Dimorphic (different forms in juvenile and mature stems).

• Juvenile Spines: About 5-8 unequal, poorly differentiated spines (1-3 central, 4-6 radial), yellowish-grey, with the longest up to 8 cm.

• Mature Spines (flowering part): Up to 30 bendable, yellowish, bristle-like spines.

• Flowers: Nocturnal, white, up to 5 cm in diameter, blooming in summer, only on plants over 1 meter tall. 

Cultivation:

• Light: Prefers full sun exposure for best growth and appearance.
• Soil: Needs a rich, well-draining substrate, such as a cactus mix or sandy loam. Avoid excess humidity to prevent root rot.
• Watering: Water regularly during the growing season (spring/summer), allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Reduce watering in winter when the plant is dormant.
• Temperature: Needs warm temperatures and is not frost-tolerant. Can tolerate temperatures as low as -5°C for short periods if kept dry.
• Fertilizing: Use a cactus-specific fertilizer, particularly during the growing season. Avoid fertilizing during dormancy.
• Propagation: Primarily by seed, as branches are not suitable for cuttings or grafting. Sow seeds in well-draining, sandy soil during spring. Germination can be erratic. 

Additional Notes:

• Sought after by collectors for its beautiful blue frosty covering on juvenile specimens.
• One of the few really blue cacti.
• Resistant to heat and verticillium wilt.
• Generally hardy and relatively pest-free when grown in good conditions.
• Requires careful watering to prevent root rot.