Expert: Maureen - 12/18/2011

Question
Maureen:  I have a question about a cactus that I discovered in my yard about a year ago in Phoenix, Arizona (see picture). I do not know what kind of cactus it is. It is in a pot and kept indoors.  The cactus is growing rapidly, but it is extremely skinny, and will fall down unless supported.  I would appreciate your advice on what kind of cactus this is, and how to care for it.  Thank you.  Alicia Reisman

Answer
Dear Alicia,

I will get back to you on the name of the cactus.  It's hard to ID because it's so etiolated.  Open that shade!  No cactus should need to be staked.  If conditions are good - light, soil, etc.  they are quite sturdy and do their thing on their own (some do trail).  This one looks light deprived to me, but I want to ID at least it's family before I make any other suggestions.  Be patient.

Well, after talking to a couple of cactus gurus, I felt better because they couldn't ID your plant either do to the extreme etiolation. The consensus is it could be a very etiolated (lanky/stretched to find sun) cleistocactus, an econopsis or even an aporocactus (rat tail,which is a pendant (trailing) cactus.


So here are my suggestions for you if you don't toss it.
LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT for all suggestions.
1. cut it back to the point where it stands on it's own and see if it develops some offshoots.
2. let it trail (if it's meant to) and also see if it develops offshoots.

I'd also put it in a smaller pot with good sandy soil.  As you may have guessed, light is the key here and it may be too late for this little plant.  The crazy, fast growth is just a search for sun and it should calm down when it gets some. Put it in a south facing, bright window if you can. Water sparingly as this is their dormant period.

Hope this helps.  Keep me posted.

Maureen