Spineless Tr. (Ech) scopulicola – Whole Plants

Description

T. Scopulicola grows in a columnar fashion much like a tree and can pup at the base (basal pup) but most often just grows one solid column. Most scops have between 4 to 6 ribs with little to no spines.

History

Trichocereus scopulicola is a columnar cactus originating out of Bolivia and is thought to be extinct in nature. Trichocereus scopulicola was discovered by Friedrich Ritter during one of his expeditions to Bolivia in 1959. The location of the type is Tarija, Bolivia. More precisely, Ritter gave Tapecua as the location and assigned the collection number FR991 and sold seed of his discovery through his legendary Winter Seed lists. Because of that, he helped spreading the plant all over the world, despite the fact that Trichocereus Scopulicola is really rare in nature. There are very few collections of this plant in nature and I am always interested in obtaining seed from new scopulicola types. The plant grows in Tarija in the province O Connor. And no, this has nothing to do with Sarah Connor from the movie TERMINATOR. Trichocereus scopulicola grows in the cactus forests around the Department Tarija at around 1000-1500 meters.

Trichocereus.net

Growing Requirements:

T. Scopulicola are forgiving plants to grow in the UK. As are most cacti grown in the UK, they are best grown in a greenhouse or conservatory (grow tents are also used for younger plants), South facing is a distinct advantage.

Watering

Watering from Spring (April) to the beginning of Autumn (End of September). Depending on what kind of summer we get will depend on how frequently you need to water, but, less is better with cacti. During the winter months, little to no watering is required or the roots could rot (they do not like to be wet for long periods).

Substrate

In warmer climates, you could go for a more nutrient-rich mixture (50% organic / 50% inorganic). But, in the UK, it is best to err more on the side of inorganic (60% – 70% inorganic) to ensure the pot is drained quickly.