Growing San Pedro
You should keep in mind that it will take at least a year to get a plant
large enough for one dose, and unless you are using year round high intensity
growth lights (such as used for pot cultivation) coupled with an ideal watering
and fertilizing schedule, you can expect to wait two years.
Cultivation
San
Pedro are different than most columnar cacti in that they grow very rapidly,
and enjoy a somewhat richer soil mix and more frequent waterings than most
cacti. They are quite hardy, and will grow successfully in a wide range of
conditions. The mescaline content in these cacti apparently are a defense
mechanism against invading organisms, and increase during stressful conditions,
particularly when the cacti are underwatered.
Lighting
Growth of these cacti occurs mainly during the brightest months of summer. In
locations where intense, bright sunny days occur for only a few months, they
will not grow rapidly. Growth can be greatly stimulated with high intensity
plant growth lights such as used for marijuana cultivation, but year round
operation of these 1000 watt bulbs can be very expensive. Ideally, angled
lighting from both sides should be observed to allow full illumination along the
entire column. When underwatering to increase potency, the cacti should be
placed in a less exposed location, with partial shade. If the lighting is too
bright for maximum potency increase (but not for maximum growth) the cacti will
turn a lighter shade of green. This response occurs after only a few weeks, so
adjust the lighting to achieve a darker shade of green.
Soil
San
Pedro should be planted in very porous soil. A typical cactus potting soil
mix is OK, but can be improved by addition of extra pumice. The more porous the
soil mix, the more frequently the cacti will have to be watered, and the less
danger there will be of root rot and other problems of over-watering. However,
the soil mix should also be fairly rich. Cactus are damaged by high nitrogen
contents, so be sure to use a fertilizer with low nitrogen. Don't begin this
treatment immediately after repotting; let the roots set in. When attempting to
increase potency, this feeding is not necessary since the cactus will not be
receiving water.
Potting
These cacti like to send out far ranging lateral root systems near to the
surface, so if potted they should be placed in very wide clay pots. Deep but
narrow pots will result in stunted growth. Clay pots are required for proper
drainage. Use of large clay pots is in many ways preferable to planting directly
in the ground, since the watering, drainage, and feeding can be controlled more
precisely. However, if attempting to increase potency, the cactus can be placed
in small, constricted pots since good growth conditions are not desired. In any
case, repotting San Pedro should not be idly done since it shocks the root
system and injures the cactus. It is best to choose a suitable pot and stick
with it.
Watering
When in full growth, the cactus should be watered quite frequently. The
cactus should be watered when the subsurface soil is not damp to the touch. This
will depend on many other factors. At one extreme, for a cactus in very
well-drained, high pumice soil, potted in porous clay pots, receiving bright
full sunlight all day long, in an exposed, windy, hot location, the cactus can
be thoroughly watered every four days. If fed this frequently, the plant food
concentration should be halved. One way to test soil dampness is to insert a
small, clean redwood stake into the soil. If it comes out with small particles
of sand clinging to it, the soil is still moist and should not be watered.
During dormant winter months, the cactus should be watered much less frequently,
perhaps once a month or so. This will stimulate root growth and result in faster
growth during the hot season. As mentioned above, when attempting to increase
potency, the cactus should not be watered at all for an entire growing season,
and placed in a less exposed, partially shaded location.
|
