What is the Blue candle cactus?
Blue candle cactus belongs to the Cactaceae family and the Myrtillocactus species.
The blue candle cactus is fast-growing and can reach a size of between 13 and 16 inches.
This plant does not branch until maturity, where it forms a candelabra shape.
The blue candle plant has tiny spines that grow from areoles.
Myrtillocactus geometrizans (also known as Bilberry Cactus, Cactus Myrtle, or Blue Candle) is a large shrubby cactus that can grow up to 16.5 feet (5 m) tall. As it reaches maturity, the cactus grows branches that resemble a candelabrum, hence its nickname “Blue Candle”.
Its stems each has from 5 to 8 ribs with spine-bearing areoles about 1.2 inches (3 cm) apart.
Its creamy and greenish white flowers bloom in March, which turn into sweet, edible, dark red, berry-like fruits.
How to grow and care for blue candle cactus
- Provide adequate sunlight exposure for rigorous growth
Provide temperatures of up to 25° degrees Fahrenheit
Avoid standing water and keep watering minimal unless it is in summer because the plant is drought-resistant.
Overhead water should also be avoided
Wet and water-logged soils must be avoided for this plant.
These plants require adequate growth space with repotting demands after a year.
Pruning and extreme care are not needed for this plant other than moderate watering and exposure to sunlight. Protection against severe weather is also required to keep the plants alive.
These measures will help in keeping the plant solid and fast-growing.
Light Soil and Watering your blue candle cactus
Above 50°F (10°C) is ideal.
Full sun to partial sun in the summer, Partial shade in the winter.
Water thoroughly only when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely. Stop watering in the winter to keep the soil dry.
Porous and well-drained cactus mix.
Feed with special cactus food once a month during spring and summer.
Repot every year because this is a fast-growing big-sized plant.
Seeds, cuttings in summer. You need to keep cuttings very dry for them to root.
