Crested Silver Torch Cactus - Cleistocactus strausii cristata

Native to the mountains of Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, and Bolivia, Cleistocactus strausii crested is also known as the Wooly Torch or Silver Torch cactus. It is from the Cactaceae family and can grow up between 3 to 10 feet tall. This columnar cactus is winter dormant.    Growth Rate The cactus is a slow-growing plant. Pruning, trimming, and watering your Silver Torch Cactus will help it grow faster.   Flowering The Silver Torch Cactus produces beautiful, bright-red flowers that bloom in the summer. The flowers are tube-shaped and grow from the sides of the stems.   Watering and Feeding Cleistocactus strausii is a drought-tolerant plant but prefers being moderately watered in the growing season. Fertilize using low-nitrogen diluted fertilizer twice a month from early spring to the end of summer.    Soil Plant your Cleistocactus in soil that provides good drainage, such as a cactus and succulent soil mix, and a container that has draining holes.    Hardiness Silver Torch Cactus prefers a warm climate. During its active growth period, it thrives in moderate room temperatures. It has a hardiness zone of 9a to 11b and frost tolerance of -10°C.   Light The Silver Torch Cactus grows best in full and direct sun. It can tolerate some partial shade, but it will not flower as well in these conditions. Make sure all parts of the cactus are exposed to sunlight.    Propagation This plant can be propagated by cutting a small branch from the mature plant, planting it in a container, and waiting for it to develop its root system.