Espostoa melanostele 'Peruvian Old Lady Cactus'
Espostoa melanostele 'Peruvian Old Lady Cactus'
Espostoa melanostele 'Peruvian Old Lady Cactus'

Espostoa melanostele 'Peruvian Old Lady Cactus'

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With golden spines and a thick, white wooly coating that closely resembles hair, it is no surprise from whence Espostoa 'Peruvian Old Lady' got its common name! Native to the high elevations of the Peruvian landscape, this variety sports a columnar growth habit and reaches a height of only 12 inches when grown indoors, where pot size and reduced access to sunlight serve to contain its growth. This mature size, however, is reached ever so slowly – often over the course of a decade or more – as this hardy plant has prioritized survival over size as an adaptation to its harsh indigenous environment.

Especially well suited to intense drought conditions, it is vital not to overwater ‘Peruvian Old Lady,’ lest it succumb to rot as a result. To avoid this fate, be sure to utilize a porous soil mixture within a well-draining pot, ensure ample airflow around the stem and soil surface, and water thoroughly but very infrequently. As with most cacti, this variety prefers full sun, so be sure to situate it in a bright southern or western exposure. During the winter months, take care to shield this desert plant from temperatures much below 50 degrees, which can cause permanent damage to the stem and bring growth to a halt.

Though ‘Peruvian Old Lady’ rarely blooms when kept as a houseplant, when it does the large white blooms are a sight to behold!

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    All plants are shipped bare-root with the exception of House Plants and Plant Club Subscription Boxes. House plants and succulents will ship from separate locations and may arrive at different times. Orders ship Monday-Friday each week. Please allow 1-3 business days for your order to be processed. We ship within the USA and its outlying territories ONLY. Read our full policy here.

    Plant sizing is based on the diameter of the nursery pot (2", 2.5", 3", 4" etc), not the plant itself. Plants may be slightly larger or smaller than the pot they are grow in depending on availability or time of year. While we do our best to ship plants as similar to those pictured as possible, please keep in mind that all plants are unique from one to the next, and display color, shape, and growth variation based on current environment, time of year, and other contributing factors. Please note that we ship our plants as dry as possible in the fall and winter months to prevent root rot or freezing. They will plump back up after planting!

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