Watering peyote cacti can be a delicate process that changes as the plant matures from a tiny seed to a fully-grown flowering cactus. To ensure healthy growth, it’s essential to understand the specific needs at each stage of development. In this guide, we'll explore the proper watering techniques for peyote during the germination, seedling, young cactus, and mature cactus stages. The same techniques can also be applied to columnar sacred cacti, such as the San Pedro.
1. Germination Stage
Germinating peyote seeds requires a controlled environment where moisture levels are kept steady. To begin, use a high-quality plant potting mix with no added nutrients, like Pro-Mix HP. Before pasteurizing the soil, you'll need to bring it to field capacity.
What is Field Capacity?
Field capacity refers to the point where the soil holds the maximum amount of water it can without being waterlogged. You can test this by performing the "squeeze test": while adding water to the soil, periodically grab a handful and squeeze it. When only a few drops of water come out, the soil is at field capacity. If no water comes out, the soil is too dry and more water must be added. If water pours out, it’s too wet and more soil must be added.
Once the soil is brought to field capacity, pasteurize it to kill off any harmful pathogens by heating it to 180-200°F for about 30 minutes. After cooling, place the mix into clear plastic germination containers. These containers will be covered to hold in moisture, meaning you won’t need to water them again until after the hardening-off stage.
What is Hardening Off?
Hardening off is the gradual process of exposing seedlings to fresh air, making them less dependent on the moist, enclosed environment they were germinated in. After hardening off, the clear plastic containers will allow you to monitor the moisture level of the soil easily.
Bonus Tip: Use spring water during germination. Tap water can contain harsh chemicals that might affect germination rates, while reverse osmosis and distilled water lack essential minerals that help with early growth.
A full guide to this germination process can be found HERE.
2. Seedling Stage
After hardening off, the seedlings should remain in their germination container until they begin fighting for space. At this stage, they need to be watered as soon as the soil dries completely. Unlike mature plants, seedlings cannot retain moisture efficiently, so letting the soil stay dry for extended periods can hinder their growth. It is important to allow the soil to dry completely though. This will help to prevent issues including fungus, mold, and rot.
Bonus Tip: You can start fertilizing at this point, using Schultz Liquid Cactus Fertilizer at half strength. Add it to your water with every watering to give your seedlings a steady supply of nutrients.
3. Young Cacti Stage
Once the seedlings begin fighting for room in the germination container, they should be transplanted into individual pots. At this stage, use a cactus-specific soil mix that drains quickly. Continue to water the young cacti as soon as the soil dries completely. The cacti will be able to endure longer periods in dry soil at this stage; however, they will grow much faster with more frequent watering.
Bonus Tip: Use unglazed clay or terracotta pots with drainage holes. These pots are porous, which allows moisture to evaporate more easily, helping prevent overwatering. The drainage hole is crucial to ensure excess water doesn’t pool in the bottom of the pot and rot the roots.
4. Mature Cacti Stage
Once your peyote cacti have matured, they should be repotted into larger clay or terracotta pots to accommodate their growth. Keep watering as soon as the soil is completely dry to keep them growing quickly and to encourage flowering. It may be tricky to know exactly when the soil is dry, but you can develop a feel for it by monitoring the weight of your pot. It will feel heaviest when freshly watered and lightest when completely dry.
Bonus Tip: Add pea gravel to the soil at this stage. This helps improve drainage and takes up space, encouraging the soil to dry faster, which is beneficial for preventing overwatering. Additionally, at this stage, you can start fertilizing at full strength to give your mature peyote the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Conclusion
With the right approach to watering at each stage of growth, your peyote cacti will flourish, rewarding you with their beautiful blooms. If you'd like to learn more about growing peyote, please consider taking our online course which covers everything you'll need to know about growing these sacred cacti from seed to flower. Click HERE to learn more.