A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods for the Cactus "Ten Thousand Mountains"

Ten Thousand Mountains (Cereus repandus f. monstrosus) is a variant of the cactus column, a succulent plant of the genus Cereus in the family Cactaceae, with extremely high cultivation value. Planted in the ground at the corners and edges of exhibition greenhouses, it can display a tropical rainforest scene, and can also serve as a hedge plant. Moreover, for newly renovated homes and offices it also has a very good air-purifying effect. Let us take a look together at the cultivation methods for Ten Thousand Mountains!

Growth Habits of Ten Thousand Mountains

Ten Thousand Mountains is a tropical rainforest plant that likes warmth and warm air, and is suited to high air humidity, high temperatures and semi-shaded environments. It prefers semi-shade; under direct strong sunlight the plant turns yellow. The optimum growth temperature is 25-35°C. It is sensitive to low temperatures; under conditions below 5°C, the stem segments easily rot. It likes fertile loam rich in humus. For potting soil, equal parts of leaf mold, coarse sand and decomposed manure can be mixed.

Propagation Methods for Ten Thousand Mountains

Ten Thousand Mountains, like other cactus plants, is very easy to propagate and keep alive. Cutting propagation is usually used, and it can be done throughout the year, with April to May being the best time. Select a small abnormal stem of Ten Thousand Mountains, cut it off and let it dry for 1-2 days, and after the cut has dried and closed, insert it into the soil for cutting. Do not water for the time being, press the soil firm and cover it, and spray some water to keep it moist. Generally, under suitable temperature conditions (14-23°C), roots will form in about 20 days and it can be transplanted. Cuttings taken during the plum rain season and the hot summer days have a lower survival rate.

Cultivation Methods for Ten Thousand Mountains

1. Soil: Ten Thousand Mountains likes loose, fertile soil rich in humus. For potting soil, 1 part leaf mold and 1 part coarse sand can be mixed and a small amount of decomposed chicken manure or cow manure added to make a growing medium. Small pots need the soil changed and fertilizer added once a year, while large pots need it once every two years.

2. Fertilizing: Ten Thousand Mountains generally does not need fertilizing. When repotting each year, place a small amount of crushed bone meal and organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer. Be cautious with high-concentration chemical fertilizers, as fertilizer burn easily occurs. Remember that fertilizing should be in small amounts and at as low a concentration as possible. You can also use liquid fertilizer brewed from organic fertilizers such as sesame paste residue, diluted and poured onto the potting soil.

3. Watering: Watering Ten Thousand Mountains should adhere to “alternating dry and wet”, preferring dry over wet. Watering cannot follow an absolute fixed interval; it must be flexibly controlled according to factors such as weather, temperature, light and ventilation. Otherwise it easily causes root rot, and leggy growth will make Ten Thousand Mountains thin and long, with slender, soft branches that do not stand upright.

4. Temperature: When overwintering Ten Thousand Mountains in winter, move it indoors promptly before the outdoor ambient temperature falls below 5°C, and place it in a sunny spot. Do not place it near window glass, as the temperature near the glass is low at night. Keeping the room temperature between 5-10°C allows it to overwinter safely. If the temperature drops suddenly, you can cover it with a plastic bag to keep it warm.

5. Ventilation: Under dry, stuffy and poorly ventilated conditions, Ten Thousand Mountains is prone to red spider mites, and under damp and cold conditions it is prone to rust spot disease. In summer, direct sunlight near window glass can cause the flower pot temperature to become too high and damage the roots. Be careful not to let the pot walls be exposed to high-temperature scorching sun.

6. Pests and diseases: Pest and disease control for Ten Thousand Mountains must focus on prevention, with particular attention to the control of stem rot and scale insects. For general diseases, drugs such as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl can be used in rotation. Drugs for general diseases and pests can be mixed, and foliar fertilizer can also be added.

Precautions for Ten Thousand Mountains

1. Grow Ten Thousand Mountains in clay pots or place a layer of clay shards inside the pot to give the root system a relatively large breathing space, so that root rot is less likely.

2. Cultivate Ten Thousand Mountains in sandy loam and fertilize once every twenty days, continuing until early October.

3. The principle for watering Ten Thousand Mountains is not to water when dry; when watering, water thoroughly. Do not water too much, and do not go without watering for a long time.

4. When overwintering, Ten Thousand Mountains should be moved into an indoor space at 8 degrees. If the temperature drops suddenly, you can cover it with a plastic bag to keep it warm.

5. Ten Thousand Mountains is a light-loving plant, so let it get as much sun as possible; going without sunlight for a long time is not acceptable.