The Golden Rat Tail Cactus is ideal for anyone looking for low-maintenance, fast-growing cacti with a distinctive appearance. Their unusual and wild appearance may turn off even the most ardent grower. If you’re a succulent and cactus fan, though, you already know that any cactus may be a fun addition to your landscape.
Cleistocactus winteri, like most cacti, is easy to manage even for inexperienced gardeners. It is most usually cultivated in hanging baskets, but it may also be grown outdoors in ideal conditions. It’s also well suited to xeriscaping.
Continue reading to learn more about the Golden Rat Tail cactus cultivation, watering, and propagation.
Golden Rat Tail Cactus Facts
- The Cleistocactus winteri is a columnar/branching species. It develops long, drooping golden-colored stems quite quickly. Flowers range in color from bright orange to salmon-pink. From the beginning of spring until the first frost, you may expect a plethora of blossoms.
- This species is relatively easy to grow, making it an excellent choice for new gardeners. It’s perfect for hanging baskets.
- This cactus’ name is derived from the Latin word “kleistos,” which means “closed.” This is a reference to the Cleistocactus winteri blossoms, which have a closed appearance.
- There are multiple subspecies of this cactus. Monkey’s tail is the most prominent subspecies is Colademono. This subspecies has softer spines that look like hairs. The stems are thinner and have more hair spines than the leaves, which gives them a tail-like look. The Monkey’s Tail Cleistocactus variety’s stems grow longer than the parent species’, reaching a maximum length of 2,5 meters. When the stems are young, they are upright, but they begin to sag under their own weight as they age. This cactus has larger, vivid red blossoms that can reach 8 cm in length.
- The Golden Rat Tail cactus is poisonous to pets and is not edible. The good news is that pets aren’t keen to play with it because of the spines. The Monkey’s Tail Cleistocactus, on the other hand, is similarly toxic and has softer spines, so you might want to keep it out of reach of pets and children.
- The stems have a tangled appearance and are coated with tiny spines that develop to a length of 4 mm or even 1 cm. Overall, the plant can reach a height of 1.5 meters and cover a 1.5-square-meter area. It requires considerable separation from other plants due to its tangled stems. We recommend At least 60 cm of space.
Soil and Water Requirements
When properly cared for, the Golden Rat Tail cactus can be quite lovely. This succulent requires the same amount of watering as other cacti.
The way you water your Golden Rat Tail is crucial to its health. It should not be allowed to sit in the water, and you should avoid too much water. The best approach to water this succulent is to soak and dry it.
The way you water succulents and cacti is also determined by the type of container you use. Keep in mind that unglazed ceramic and terracotta pots absorb moisture from the soil. On the other side, plastic pots don’t drain as well.
The plant’s age is also important. Young plants require more regular watering, whereas adult plants like to drain every last drop of moisture from the soil and enjoy a period of dryness. The location of the plant is also important. It would be best if you played around with the watering frequency until you figure out what your plant requires. Tap water should be ok for most cacti, although rainwater or distilled water is always better.
A cactus mix that drains fast is the best soil for a Golden Rat Tail cactus. If you aren’t using a cactus mix, the soil should be light and properly aerated. This requires sandy, loamy soil.
You’ll only need to fertilize your cactus while it’s actively growing. The potassium content of the liquid plant food should be high, while the nitrogen content should be low. Dilute the fertilizer with water so you can apply it as a liquid.
Light Preferences
Golden Rat Tail cactus dislike direct afternoon sunshine and should be kept in the shade during the warmest hours of the day. Expose to direct sunshine in the mornings and afternoons. It’s best to use a rich, fast-draining cactus mix.
It would be best if you did planting throughout the warm season. To repot a cactus:
- Make sure the soil is completely dry before removing the pot.
- Remove the old soil from the roots, making sure to get rid of any rotting or dead roots as well.
- Apply fungicide to any cuts, then backfill the pot with potting soil and repot the plant, spreading the roots out as you go.
- Allow the plant to dry out for a week or so before watering lightly to avoid root rot.
This sturdy cactus prefers to grow in sunny or somewhat shady areas. Whether you cultivate it indoors or outside makes a difference. The plant enjoys filtered strong sunshine indoors, where the temperature is stable.
Cleistocactus winteri may withstand direct sunshine outside if the temperature is not too hot. The plant will thrive in either morning or afternoon sun in hotter climates. In the winter, it’s better to bring it indoors and keep it dry. If you’re growing Cleistocactus in a hanging basket outside, make sure it’s protected from strong winds.
Propagating
Seeds and cuttings are both used to propagate this cactus. Cutting propagation takes less time and is more efficient. However, it may impair the mother plant’s beauty by creating a visible hole when the chopped stem is removed.
If you’re going to cut Cleistocactus winteri to propagate it, pick a stem from the base, so it’s less obvious. Allow a week for the offset to dry before planting it. Plant the offset in a medium-sized pot once it has dried and the wound has healed completely and is covered in a callous. You can also avoid fungal infections by drying the offset.
Keep in mind that Cleistocactus winteri grows quicker than other cactus species, which means that repotting it while it is still young is not ideal.
To boost your chances of success, use a quality cactus mix and even a rooting hormone. Allow it to recover from the transplant display for around 10 days after repotting before hydrating it.
The first watering should be thorough, but once the soil is soaked, drain excess water from the drip tray and wait until the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry before watering again. Although this is a fast-growing plant, it can take 4-8 weeks to establish a stable root system.