Golden Rat Tail (Cleistocactus winteri)

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) May 16, 2005

Golden Rat Tail
Cleistocactus winteri

Cleistocactus winteri, in hanging basket. 14 May 2005. (Note bloom at lower, right, at end of one tendril).

Thumbnail by spaceman_spiff
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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) May 17, 2005

Oh my gosh this plants is awesome!!!

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) May 24, 2005

Thanks, CaptMicha!
This has always been one of my favorites!
John

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) May 24, 2005

Where did you get it? I really want to order one and can't find a source!

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) May 24, 2005

Sorry, I'm not sure where you might be able to order one. I got mine from an elderly gentleman who lives next door to some friends of mine and sells plants out of his yard. It took years to get this big and start blooming. It's got several more buds on it right now. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've had to carry the dang heavy thing in and out of my garage when there was a danger of frost, not to mention during all the hurricanes we had here in FL last year!

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) May 25, 2005

Carrying that huge thing in and out even once would have been one time too many! Watch out for those spikes.

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terri_v123 Holly, MI Apr 14, 2011

I recently bought a small one and I was wondering what type of soil yours is growing in? Any helpful hints to get mine to look that great? Thanks

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spaceman_spiff Saint Petersburg, FL(Zone 9b) Jul 11, 2011

Hi, Terri.

My sincere apologies for how long it has taken me to reply. I was out of state for a month or so, and then just hadn't checked this website in a while.

I planted mine so many years ago that I really can't remember for sure what kind of soil I used. Typically, I would use bags of top soil from Home Depot or a similar store. I never really cared for those potting "mixes" that contain vermiculite or whatever else makes them so light (as in not heavy) and dry out so quick. On the other hand, you have to be careful to use a soil that doesn't retain too much moisture as this cactus is susceptible to rotting if kept wet too long. The basket I have it in originally had one of those liners made out of coconut fibers or whatever they use, which allowed the soil to dry out fairly quickly, but the liner has long since deteriorated. In fact, there's hardly any soil left in the basket at all, in proportion to the size of the plant. What little is there is held in place by the roots. So now I periodically add a few pellets of Ozmicote for fertilizer, since I'm sure whatever nutrients were in the soil have long since been depleted. It also collects oak leaves that fall from the tree it's hanging in, so I guess they had a small amount of "mulch."

Hope this helps!
Sorry again it took so long to reply.
John

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