The equivalent of “thin jeans” in the cactus world are Mexican fence posts. No other huge cactus has this much flesh showing. This common moniker doesn’t give one of the most significant and dependable huge cacti for premium appearance and contemporary design credit.
Maybe you’ve been scrolling through Pinterest and current publications looking at pictures of the ethnobotanical garden in Oaxaca City that have been posted online. Fence post cactus linear plantings have finally reached their pinnacle and are now the favorites of the unnatural planting crowd. Many years ago, I went to the same Oaxacan garden right after it had been established, and I still have pictures of the original flowers on the grounds of a former convent from the Spanish colonial era. Since then, I’ve been mesmerized by the rural cactus fences made by lining up solitary stems of this species in a solid line to form a mass. These are incredibly simple to maintain with drip irrigation and can make beautiful screens because mature plants can grow to be 12 feet tall.
This thin cactus was the first one I ever seen at Moorten Botanical Garden. Here, year after year, I noticed the large group near the pond with flowers and fruit. The few ribs that each had a staccato series of grey extrusions became something I also came to enjoy. They are safer and simpler to maneuver around because of their short spines. They also make one of the best cactus for small spaces or poolside.
One day, when we were trimming the clump of fence posts, Clark Moorten warned, “They’re brittle.” These long cuttings must be supported throughout their whole length to prevent breaking in two like a cucumber.
Moorten gathered a piece of carpet padding and began delicately wrapping each stem to protect the delicacy of all that lovely skin. Too frequently, a handling error can ruin a lovely specimen for life, and for this species, it matters greatly without a covering of spines to guard its delicate areas.
Moorten had previously wrapped towering cacti with scraps of old carpet, but this time the padding was much softer. It avoided the abrasions that long-distance transport of the stiff carpet strands might cause. We were able to carry the stems we took while wrapped up like carpet mummies without making a single stab. It’s also a fantastic technique to remove substantial chunks of any tall columnar cacti that need to be replanted but are hazardous, cumbersome, and frequently highly valuable as well.
Pachycereus marginatus, sometimes known as the fence post cactus, may be found throughout much of northern Mexico along the Border States. It can reportedly grow up to 3 feet tall throughout the summer due to its capacity to adapt to the Gulf of Mexico’s summer monsoon season. However, the plants can be found in extremely dry regions where they are thinner and develop at a much slower rate. This implies that they enjoy the summertime water because it is what they need to survive here in the desert.
The white, sweet edible flesh of the fence post fruit is surrounded by crunchy, black seeds. Since the next day they are nothing more than a hollow shell of spines and crimson skin, they are adored by all birds that appear to be able to predict when they ripen in the heat.
For the best appearance, give this cactus a protected yard and regular summer water. Blowing debris in the open can leave skin with unsightly scars. They become brown and yellow in areas from too much western sun, which is also a result of irrigation water scald.
Fence post cactus growing along the coast should be avoided since they will transform once they enter this desert environment. If planted right away, voids between the formerly densely planted fence may start to form due to an adaptive shrinking. The outcomes will be far more successful if they are harvested from nearby mother plants. However, if you want to go big, you can get some fantastic container examples from nearby growers in the valley, who can probably help you compile a linear work of living art.
What is the maximum size of a Mexican Fence Post Cactus?
Temperature care advice for Mexican Fence Post Cactus: If your plant is outdoors and it starts to get chilly, you might want to think about covering the plant’s tips with Styrofoam cups.
Humidity
The Mexican Fence Post Cactus thrives in a hot, dry environment. Since this plant does not grow in a tropical rainforest, humidity should never be too high.
Humidity levels in a typical home will range from 40 to 60 percent. This is the perfect thing for your cactus. Anything above 60% will be too moist and can even pose a health risk to occupants of the house. Mold and germs tend to thrive in damp environments.
Make sure your plant is not in an ice draft if you have a hot, humid home and are using an air conditioner to lower the temperature.
Mexican Wall Post-humidity care tip: If the humidity is very low, at under 40%, think about misting your plant with a gentle spritz every now and again.
Fertilizer
You’ll be glad to know that the Lophocereus marginatus may live without a regular feeding schedule if you’d rather not mess too much with your plants.
However, it does gain from a feed every now and again in the spring and summer. Winter is not the time to fertilize plants since it can harm them.
I usually opt for a natural organic blend when purchasing ready-made fertilizer. I try to avoid mixing chemicals wherever I can.
The ideal fertilizers for cacti contain phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in combination. Go to your neighborhood nursery or farmer’s market to look for a particular cactus fertilizer. It’s also a fantastic idea to utilize homemade fertilizer. Why not think about setting up a small composting kit if you have a garden and make excellent use of dead flowers, grass clippings, and fallen leaves?
Feed Mexican Fence Post Cactus sparingly only during the growing season, according to care instructions.
Propagation
Cuttings from the Mexican Fence Post Cactus can be multiplied. A novice could find this intimidating, yet it is actually simple to perform.
Growing things is a rewarding and enjoyable activity. You can increase your current display without spending any money by giving your new plants as gifts to relatives and friends.
I’ll go into detail on how to grow your Mexican Fence Post Cactus later on.
Growth
The Mexican Fence Post Cactus is a large plant that can reach heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters) or much higher in natural desert areas. It creates groups of tall, columnar trunks that look like pipes.
Your plant can develop to a maximum height of 2 feet in a pot (60cm). It features a robust body with a main stem that can expand to a width of four inches (10cm).
With five to seven deep-green ribs, the form is clearly recognized. White spikes embedded in fuzzy areolas along the borders of each rib, creating an extremely eye-catching show. When touching the plant, exercise caution because of the spiky spikes.
A mature Lophocereus marginatus will produce stunning pinkish-red tubular flowers in the spring. The edges of the ribs are where the flowers emerge, almost horizontally. You’ll see that the cactus produces spiky, yellowish-red fruit with black seeds after it blooms.
The Mexican Fence Post Cactus, if planted outside, forms an amazing fence to line a wall or act as a barrier to block an unattractive view of neighboring properties! It will develop a fantastic dense wall that can almost appear impenetrable because it grows so tall with thick stems.
A towering background is a terrific addition to a cactus display indoors. Additionally, it makes a patio area that might otherwise be dreary and monotonous look fantastic.
Potting
Any beautiful container makes the Mexican Fence Post Cactus seem amazing. It has a thick, distinctly columnar shape, so pick a container that emphasizes that design while without being overly huge or wide.
At the bottom of the pot, scatter some loose granite chips or tiny pebbles. This will aid in drainage and help keep the drainage pores clear of finer sand. Add your cactus mix to the pot halfway, then thoroughly water it.
Wear your protective gloves while planting; the spikes can sting you if you don’t. Center the plant in the pot. Cactus mix should be added to the pot using a scoop to surround the plant. To allow for water drainage and airflow, the earth should not be compacted firmly; it should stay loose.
If your indoor plant begins to outgrow its container, repotting can be required. After the winter hibernating period, plan to do this in the spring. Why not think about a floor-standing pot if your plant starts to grow really tall? You can allow it to to a height of several feet to make a stunning focal point for your living area.
Prepare a hole that is the right size if you are planting outside. Add cactus mix to the halfway point, then water. After inserting the plant, fill the hole with earth. Make sure the location you’ve chosen receives direct sunlight.
Mexican Wall Care advice for cactus pots: Glazed pots have a tendency to hold water for longer. Water cannot evaporate as quickly as it can in an unglazed, porous pot because the sides are sealed. Instead, use a permeable container for your plant.
Cacti found on Mexican fence posts bloom?
This attractive cactus grows to a height of twenty feet or more and has towering, columnar trunks. A pipe organ-like formation of thick, cylindrical stem clusters is produced. The plant grows many arms during the course of its lifetime, and additional irrigation speeds up growth. It has ribs that are a dark green color and little spines. Its smooth stems include five to seven ribs and a yellowish central spine. The plant’s common name comes from the fact that it is frequently utilized to build a living fence, mostly beside roads, in many Mexican communities and towns. The cactus produces spectacular tubular pinkish-red flowers in the spring. It produces spiky, yellowish to red fruit with black seeds after the blooming cycle. Plant it against a tall wall, as a vertical accent, as a desert accent, or use cuttings of this plant to make a living fence. Additionally useful in arid or tropical environments, it requires little care. The Mexican fence post is widely planted and has become naturalized throughout Mexico. It is native to the states of Hidalgo, Queretaro, and Guanajuato.
How much time does it take for a cactus piece to grow?
If you own a cactus, you probably want to know how quickly it will grow and how big it will eventually get. Knowing this will help you determine where to place your cactus and what plants to grow next to it. How quickly do cacti grow, then?
Most cacti develop slowly; depending on the species, they typically sprout to the size of a large marble after 6–12 months and reach a height of a few centimeters after 2–3 years. The majority of cacti then increase 1-3 cm in height annually. There are a few prominent exceptions that can increase in height by at least 15 centimeters annually.
- The typical annual height growth rate for echinocactus, like the Golden Barrel Cactus, is 1-2 cm.
- Ferrocactus species typically grow by about 2-3 cm in height every year.
- Depending on its stage of development, the Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) grows 2–15 cm annually and can grow as tall as 75 ft.
For the majority of species, growing your cactus to its maximum size will require patience. We’ll provide you a growth timeline and some advice that can help you accelerate growth in this article. Please keep reading!
Can Mexican Fence Post Cactus be cut?
This is a tale of two fresh starts—one for my second-oldest daughter, Rachele, and one for a new cactus.
Mexican Fence Post (Pachycereus marinatus), the cactus pictured above, has been contentedly flourishing in my front garden.
What may not be immediately clear is that I started this cactus 11 years ago from a 2-foot piece (referred to as a “cutting”) that a client gave me from their big Mexican Fence Post cactus.
Compare the image above with the first one by paying close attention to it. Do you see where we chopped the cactus in half?
Our neighbors wanted a cactus like ours because they had recently redone the landscaping in their front yard. They were aware that they would need to begin with a much smaller one, of course, but they had no idea how much it would cost to purchase one at the nursery.
We decided to give them a piece (cutting) off of our Mexican fence post because our cactus had been flourishing so well. So, my daughter, husband, and I gathered to cut a piece of our cactus.
My spouse took a pruning saw and began slicing off the bottom of a good-sized piece of cactus while I held onto it.
To grasp onto cacti with short thorns, it’s helpful to use many layers of newspaper and gloves. You can use carpet remnants for cacti with larger thorns. Be ready since a piece of sliced cactus will weigh considerably more than you anticipate.
My husband and daughter used our wheelbarrow to transport the cactus trimming to our neighbor’s home.
In order to prevent the cut site from rotting when the cacti are replanted, we next left the cutting in a dry, shaded location for two weeks.
My daughter Rachele left for basic training in the Navy exactly 3 days after helping us with the cactus cutting. For us, it was a difficult goodbye, but for her, it was a fresh start.
The fresh cactus was placed in its new location with a wooden post for support after two weeks had passed.
The cut end was not watered for the first month following planting to ensure that it had callused over completely.
The cactus was watered thoroughly once a month until November following planting.
*Every time I glanced at the newly planted cactus, I thought about my daughter and how she was adjusting to life in the Navy.
The new cutting is thriving so well a year later that two additional parts have even sprouted.
While I may not be as close to my daughter as these two cacti are, she is growing and succeeding in her new job with the Navy, much like the new cactus. We’re extremely pleased with her!