Cleistocactus winteri
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; happy in a well-lit hanging position |
|---|---|
| Water | Regular in the growing season once the mix dries; keep drier and cooler in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining but not starved; a gritty mix with a little organic matter (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Cuttings (very easy) and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Cleistocactus winteri is a soft-spined, trailing cactus from Bolivia whose slender stems spill downward in a cascade of pale gold, earning it the affectionate common name golden rat tail. Grown widely for hanging baskets, it combines dense, harmless golden bristles with showy salmon to orange flowers, making it one of the easiest and most rewarding pendent cacti for a beginner. It was long known in the hobby under the names Hildewintera aureispina and Winterocereus aureispinus, but is now placed in the genus Cleistocactus.
Description
Cleistocactus winteri produces slim, cylindrical stems roughly 1.5–2.5 cm thick that can trail well over a metre with age. Young stems tend to grow upright before the weight of length pulls them into a soft, arching cascade — the reason the plant is so often displayed in a raised pot or basket. Each stem is finely ribbed and clothed all round in short, golden-yellow spines that are more bristle than needle: dense enough to give the plant a warm glow in good light, yet soft enough to handle without much complaint.
The flowers are the real reward. Borne along the sides of established stems, they are slender and somewhat trumpet-shaped, in shades of salmon-pink through orange, and appear generously on a happy plant through the warmer months. Unlike many of its upright Cleistocactus relatives, whose flowers barely open, the blooms of the golden rat tail flare wide and are freely produced.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Bolivia, where it grows on cliffs and steep rocky slopes, its stems hanging down from crevices and pockets of gritty soil. This lithophytic, cascading habit is worth keeping in mind as a grower: the plant is adapted to sharp drainage and bright, airy positions, but it is not a desert extremist and appreciates more regular moisture in growth than a globular desert cactus would.
Cultivation
The golden rat tail is one of the most forgiving cacti a hobbyist can grow. Give it bright light with some direct sun to keep the spination dense and golden and to encourage flowering; too little light produces thin, pale, sparsely spined growth. Plant it in a fast-draining mix that still holds a little organic matter, and water freely once the mix has dried through the growing season — this is a thirstier cactus than most, and the trailing stems can shrivel if kept bone dry for long. Ease off in winter and keep the plant cooler and drier to earn a good flush of flowers the following season.
A hanging basket or a tall pot on a shelf shows the cascading stems to best effect and keeps them off wet surfaces. Feed lightly during active growth. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation could hardly be simpler. Sections of stem root readily as cuttings: cut a length, let the wound callus for a few days, then set it in a gritty mix and keep barely moist until roots take. Seed is also viable for those wanting to raise numbers or work on hybrids, but cuttings are the usual route because they are quick and reliable. See Propagation — seed for the seed method.
Cultivars
Cleistocactus winteri is a popular parent in the hobby and has been used in hybridising for vigorous, colourful flowering on trailing stems. Named selections and hybrids in the trade vary in spine colour and flower shade, from clear gold with salmon blooms to forms with a more orange cast.
Common problems
- Etiolation — insufficient light gives thin, weak stems with sparse, washed-out spines and few flowers; move to a brighter spot.
- Rot — although thirstier than most cacti, it still resents standing water and a soggy mix; stems soften and discolour from the base.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide among the dense bristles and root systems, and red spider mites may attack in hot, dry, stagnant air. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Cleistocactus — the genus overview
- Propagation — cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting