Product Details
Highlights
Peruvian Old Lady (Espostoa melanostele) (Borg): A columnar cactus covered with gold spines and a thick, woolly coating that resembles hair. It is native to dry, sunny habitats at high elevation in Peru and is extremely drought tolerant. Plant in rapidly draining soil and water sparingly most of the year and not at all in the winter. It grows slowly (about 1.0" a year) and can eventually sprout new branches from its base if given enough space and sunlight.
It is very rare to see this species in bloom, but its 2.0" white flowers are specially adapted to close in rainstorms and reopen when dry. In the wild it can reach over 6.0' tall at maturity but stays small potted on a windows sill.
This cactus variety will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures it can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light. Cactus need bright sunlight, great drainage, and infrequent water to prevent rot. Pick containers with drainage holes and use well-draining cactus and succulent soil with 70% to 80% mineral grit such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite. Water deeply and wait for the soil to completely dry out before watering again.
Product Size
2.0" Pot
Current Primary Color
White
All Seasonal Colors
Green
Bloom Color
White Bloom
Grow Zone (Hardiness)
Zone 10 (30F)
Recommended Light Conditions
Bright Indoor Light, Full Sun
Maximum Height
Over 12"
Growth Habit / Shape
Vertical Grower / Tall Stem
Special Characteristic
Showy Blooms, Slow Grower
THIS PLANT IS HARDY IN ZONES 10+
WHAT IS MY HARDINESS ZONE?
Videos
Learn about what makes Cacti unique, how to water them, what l...
Questions & Answers
Popular Questions
Pruning may cause your plant to branch, which is fine, but if you want that solitary stem look, we don't recommend pruning.
Please note, a lack of sunlight will "stretch" the plant, causing it to grow very tall, very fast, no matter what it's potted in. Be sure this plant is getting plenty of light, either from an unobstructed south facing window or from a grow light.
Peruvian old lady cactus and old man of the Andes cactus differ on a few points. These are:
1) Old man cactus grows three feet taller to a maximum of 10 feet in the wild. The old lady cactus only gets to be seven feet tall in the wild.
2) Old man cactus has yellowish spines that poke out from its silvery hair, while old lady cactus doesn't.
3) This one may be just a taxonomic point for nerds, but old lady cactus is in the genus Espostoa while old man cactus is in Oreocereus.
See full answer »
The limited tag just means that we don't have a whole lot of that plant, and propagating it takes a lot of time. Plants with the limited tag can only be ordered once per order. In other words, you can only order one of them at a time.
The exclusive tag means that we're the only major outfit that sells that particular plant. You may be able to find an Etsy or Ebay listing, but no major nurseries are selling it, with the exception of us. These plants are rare, and typically exciting, but they're going to be a bit pricey.
I hope this all helps!
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Succulents need grittier soil than other plants because they are adapted to dry conditions and store water in their leaves. Regular potting soil mixes stay damp for long periods of time, which can cause rot in succulents. Instead, use a sandy, well-draining soil so you can water thoroughly without leaving your succulent in standing water.
IN POTS…
See full answer »Our plants can be transplanted immediately upon arrival.
If you want to wait to transplant, they can remain in their original containers for up to a month. If the pots came in a plastic carrier tray, remove the pots from the carrier tray prior to the first watering.
Keep the plants indoors near a sunny window or outdoors under a roof (only if outdoor temperatures stay above your succulent's minimum hardiness temperature). Water only after the soil is fully dry by drenching from above with a faucet, hose, or watering can. Gently shake excess water from the leaves and allow containers to drain completely.
Fertilizing is not necessary, but it is a good option for succulent growers who want to encourage faster, larger growth. It can be used on mature plants with established roots. Only fertilize in the growing season (spring and summer for most varieties) to avoid weakening or burning dormant plants. Use a light touch and make 2-3 applications of low-Nitrogen, diluted fertilizer each year (N-P-K ratio around 5-10-10). You can find specially-formulated cactus / succulent fertilizers in most garden centers or go organic with compost tea or bone meal.
Example: Miracle-Gro Quick Start, diluted to half strength
Succulents need deep, infrequent watering, especially during their growing season and when they are young and establishing roots. Only water after the soil is completely dry and the plant feels less firm. Err on the side of underwatering. Watering too frequently is the most common way to kill succulents.
HOW TO WATER SUCCULENTS
- Drench from above using a faucet, hose, or watering can
- Do not mist with a spray bottle (the only exception is for Air Plants)
- Water until it drains from the container's drainage hole. If your container does not have a drainage hole (not recommended), use about 1/3 the volume of the container…
Different succulent varieties have different light needs. You can find the Recommended Light Conditions on each variety's page by scrolling down to the Product Details. We use four categories of recommended light, and some plants can thrive under a range of light conditions.
LOW INDOOR LIGHT
- Can grow indoors without direct sun.
- Placing outdoors in direct sun or on sunny window sills might cause dark burns.
- There are a limited number of succulent varieties that thrive in low light, notably Haworthia, Gasteria, Peperomia, and some Jade…
Many succulent varieties are only available seasonally because of their growing and propagation cycles. During the growing season, we can usually restock sets and trays weekly. Most individual plants will go in and out of stock through the seasons, but they are also restocked weekly when available. Thursday is usually the best day of the week for finding plants in stock. Spring and Summer are generally the best seasons for availability.
Any product that is out of stock has an "Email me when a product is back in stock" button (shown above). Click the button and enter your email to be notified when it's available again. If this button isn't appearing, the plant may have very recently sold out - check back after a short while and the button should appear.
