Cereus aethiops

Cereus aethiopsOrigin and Habitat: Argentina Cereus aethiops is a shrubby, erect, more or less columnar cactus, sometimes prostrate, usually much branched from the base, to 2 m high, 1. 5 m wide, with blue waxy coating on young stems and peculiar black spines. It is one of the few true Cereus which will flower when small (on 50 cm tall plants), the night blooming flowers are fragrant, white to pale pink, to 20 cm long. Cultivation and Propagation: Cereus aethiops is

Origin and Habitat: Argentina

Cereus aethiops is a shrubby, erect, more or less columnar cactus, sometimes prostrate, usually much branched from the base, to 2 m high, 1.5 m wide, with blue waxy coating on young stems and peculiar black spines. It is one of the few true Cereus which will flower when small (on 50 cm tall plants), the night-blooming flowers are fragrant, white to pale pink, to 20 cm long.

Cultivation and Propagation: Cereus aethiops is a slow growing cactus kept for the beauty of its form and flowers. It is a summer grower species. Easy to cultivate but somewhat rot prone if kept in a non ventilated place, especially after planting.
Growth rate: Slow-growing and very long-lived.
Soils: It likes very porous mineral cactus mix soil, but can become too elongated if compost is too rich.
Repotting: This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Needs moderate in summer, but do not overwater (extremely rot prone), keep dry in winter.
Hardiness: Reputedly resistant to frost if kept on the dry side prior to, and during, cold weather (hardy to -12 C ° C, or less for short periods).
Exposition: The plant tolerates extremely bright situations. Blasting full sun encourages flowering and

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz