If you like big blue cacti then Sharxx Blue is one of a group of very similar blue Peruvianus clones that are freely available in Australia. It is one of the most sort after Trichocereus clones and despite having been around for some time it still commands a top price on online auctions.
In this article though, I’m not going to write about Sharxx Blue . . . . specifically. . . . for two reasons!
Firstly, there is a possibility that the Trichocereus Peruvianus clone in my garden may not even be a Sharxx Blue.
But more importantly there is a much wider issue that should concern anyone who intends to plant one of these magnificent trichos into their garden, which I’ll get to shortly.
But first, the first point!
I purchased my “Sharxx Blue” cutting from a Gumtree Ad. The guy I got it off had a number of “well known clones” he was selling. However he didn’t appear to be growing them himself and didn’t appear to have an established online footprint. He said he’d gotten them from a friend, so I negotiated a pretty good price and the deal was done.
So the point I’d like to make is this. If you are in the market for a specific clone and then want to pass it off as a specific “well known clone”, then I would suggest you purchase your cutting from a well known seller that has some credibility within the cactus community. That way you know that you will be getting what your are paying for.
As an example, I have a well known clone called “Bart”. I purchased it from a well know seller from eBay so I am fairly confident I have what I paid for. Nevertheless, my “Sharxx” does look very similar to Bart. These two clones do look similar. As do some other well known clones going around. But in the end . . . . . “who knows??????”.
For me though . . . . I don’t really care what it is. Ultimately it turned out to be a very nice blue Peruvianus, that grows fairly quickly and is starting to develop quite a nice thick girth.
Enough said! So now let’s get into what this article is really about.
How my “Nice Blue Peru” performed in my garden. And then, what went wrong!!!
I originally purchased two cuttings in the beginning of 2021.
They grew roots over winter and in Spring the larger one went into the ground and the smaller one was potted up into a larger pot.
Over the next 2 growing seasons it grew fairly well.
So, “Nice Blue Peru” was doing quite well planted in the ground. It was growing quite vigorously and was also developing quite a nice girth. It really did appear to be doing quite well.
In comparison the smaller clone was now around 45cm.
It’s probably important to make 2 points, especially if you are new to growing these types of cactus.
Firstly, you may notice a colour difference on the new growth of the two cacti. It’s not unusual for 2 cacti that are the same clone to look different when grown in different locations/aspects. Sunlight/shade, soil mix, nutrients, local climate etc can not only effect the colour but also spine length and colour etc.
So just as two different, but similar clones grown in the same conditions can look the same. Two clones that are the same, grown in different conditions can look different. Possibly the reason why it can be difficult to verify if some clones are what they are claimed to be.
Secondly, the other important point to make is this. Plants in the ground usually out grow one’s in pots (an obvious point!). But another determining factor can be the initial size of cuttings. Larger cactus cuttings generally outgrow smaller one’s. So if you’re new to this, always try and buy larger cuttings. 50cm cuttings usually grow large, quicker than 25cm cuttings. The extra expense will usually be worth it!
So now the larger cutting was doing very well in the ground. Much, much better than the smaller one in the pot. But then in June 2023 . . . . . . disaster!!!!
Disappointing, but more importantly what happened?????
So now, this is what this article is really about.
Why did “Nice Blue Peru” topple over?
There were a few contributing factors, but here’s the main one
The ground around the cactus was reasonably sodden. The last two winters in Melbourne have been quite wet. As you can see, there is a slight slope toward the fence. There is also a piece of fence plinth under the fence, which of course, acts like a dam wall. So the area between the cactus and the fence is when the ground is at it’s softest.
Although I believe the roots were reasonably well developed, you can imagine that in the soft soil, the lateral roots lost grip and the cactus over balanced.
If you look at the photo, it does tell a story.
It is now tied back, over centre, from where it was leaning before it toppled. If you notice, there is a bend about half way up (where the ties are). I’m guessing the damage started last winter, which was also wet. It started to lean forward then, slightly, but then roots caught it and didn’t let it lean any further. Then the ground dried out over the warmer months providing stability and it started to grow vertically again.
So now, in the middle of another wet winter the ground is sodden and soft again. It’s also leaning over centre and the roots lose their grip again, it can’t support the weight (these things get really heavy when full of water) and it starts to really lean, now at about 45 deg to the ground.
Interestingly though, I believe there is an upside. It looks like the roots did a pretty good job not letting it topple completely. Usually root rot is the cause of many plants falling over (not just large cacti), which of course is caused by sodden soil, which of course is caused by bad drainage. So the fact it didn’t topple completely indicates the roots were now supporting an even greater weight. Not a bad effort!!!!
So there you have it, bad drainage is the likely cause. A common problem with many garden issues.
Therefore there are now two considerations.
- What to do about the cactus. Should I remove it and let it recover in a pot or leave it in ground, and
- What to do about the drainage.
I suppose both of these are tied together, as how the drainage issue is tackled will depend, to some extent, on if the cactus is still there or if it is removed.
Either way, the best solution would be to take a cutting at the bend then straighten the bottom half so it is plumb. This won’t be a job for the middle of winter though, as the bottom half will likely rot in the cold weather and then cause further issues.
To fix the drainage, would be easier if the cactus was removed. But to remove it in one piece and repot with a sizeable root ball would be a chore.
Therefore, for now, I’ve just staked it back into a vertical position. This will then give me time to decide on the ultimate course of action, which will have to wait for spring, when the weather warms again.
In the meantime, there is another consideration. Root rot! Leaving the cactus in the ground may lead to the roots completely rotting. So what I’ve done is apply a product called POPUL8. One of it’s benefits is ,
Protection & Resilience against disease by filling the biological space that could otherwise be occupied by pathogens.
So now there is no rush to decide on a course of action.
However there is still one point that is worth addressing.
Drainage. Something that is overlooked or it’s importance underestimated in many gardens. Some seasons we get lots of rain and other less. But one thing that is undeniable, there are more events these days when we get lots of rain in short periods of time.
You can’t stop the rain! But what is important, when we get lots of rain you need to give the water somewhere to run off to or drain away to. So if the water is sitting, this is when the ground becomes sodden and roots that are still growing and finding their depth can lose their grip and that’s when plants can fall over.
Large cacti, by their nature are very heavy and when they are full of water they are even heavier.
So when you plant your newly rooted 50cm cactus in the ground, understand that in 5 or 10 years it could have grown quite large and heavy. So plan ahead. Take into consideration how your garden behaves after higher than normal rainfall and have a good look at whether the excess water will drain away or get obstructed, by a fence, retaining wall or whatever. Plan ahead and consider your drainage.
My example will be an easy fix. I was alerted early and there wasn’t any damage to the fence or other plants.
So make sure your drainage is adequate, so you won’t have any future issues and then you’ll be able to enjoy your giant cacti well into the future.
In conclusion, once I remedy my issues in the spring, I’ll write about it and post it then.
