San Pedro Care Guide

Family: Cactaceae

Genus: Echinopsis

Botanical Name: Echinopsis Pachanoi

Difficulty: Easy to care for

Light

To keep your San Pedro happy, keep it in a bright area that receives indirect sunlight. Mature plants don’t mind direct natural sunlight, but younger plants can get sunburned. They love to be kept on a south-facing windowsill that receives bright sunlight.

Water

San Pedro Cacti require more water than most cacti. They need to be watered once a week and will require more water during hotter summer days. They will not need to be watered nearly as often in the cooler, winter months.

Climate

This guy is a trooper! It can withstand temperatures as cold as 38°-41°F. Ideal temperatures for a San Pedro are between 40°-50°F.

Soil

They love a good fertile, well-draining soil. Soil that is a little more nutrient rich than regular cactus mix is the best option for a San Pedro that is kept in a pot.

Pests and Diseases

Unfortunately, they are pretty susceptible to fungal infections like witches broom and root rot. Like other succulents, they can develop root mealybugs, scale, and spider mites. All of these pests can be scraped off with a knife to prevent severe damage.

Tips

• If you’re keeping your San Pedro indoors in an area that doesn’t receive a lot of light, grow lights are a great option to keep them happy!

• If you’re growing them in a container, feel free to feed it a little with cacti-specific fertilizer to give it more nutrients.

• Avoid watering them between October and April because this increases the risk of rot settling in.

Signs your San Pedro is sans happiness

• He’s looking yellow: roots are too packed into the soil

• Brown, rotting base: over watering, root rot has set in.

• Skinny guy: he’s etiolated from a lack proper sunlight.

• Spotty guy: too much sun or fungal lesions

How to Propagate

Most cacti can be propagated from cuttings take from a mature plant. Pick a healthy section of your plant to take a cutting from. Using a very sharp, clean knife, cut off the desired length. Wait for the end to callous a little before putting it into a cactus and succulent potting mix. Keep it in bright sunlight and wait for roots to grow! Always water once the soil has dried.

Fun Facts

• These cacti are native to high altitude mountains like the Andes!

• They naturally thrive at altitudes up to 9,800 feet!

• It is illegal to consume San Pedro cacti in most countries because they contain mescaline, which has psychedelic effects.

• They produce beautiful white flowers in June and July.

• They grow pretty fast for a cactus once they’re mature and have an established root system.

Hardiness Zones

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

The hardiness zones for San Pedro cacti are : 8b-10

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!