Espostoa lanata - Peruvian old man cactus

Espostoa lanata is a columnar candle cactus native to the western slopes of the Andes, stretching from southern Ecuador to northern Peru. Nicknamed the "Peruvian Old Man Cactus" due to its woolly blanket, it can grow up to 7 metres in its natural habitat. In cultivation its dimensions are more modest, reaching a maximum height of 2 metres. Very similar to the Espostoa churinensis species, it differs by having slightly narrower, shorter, and less woolly stems. Additionally, this one branches from the column, not from the base.

Belonging to the Cactaceae family, Espostoa lanata grows in a tree-like manner with columnar stems that branch in the upper parts. It is native to the western slopes of the Andes, where it grows between 1,000 and 2,500 metres in altitude, primarily in Ecuador and northern Peru. It colonises rocky and arid terrains, often exposed to strong sunlight and subject to significant temperature variations between day and night. In its natural environment, it can reach heights of 1.5 to 7 metres, with a trunk measuring up to 1 metre in height and 20 centimetres in diameter. The stems, which are 6 to 10 centimetres in diameter, feature between 18 and 25 rounded, shallow ribs, separated by straight furrows. The elliptical areoles are spaced 7 to 10 millimetres apart and covered in dense white hairs, giving the plant its characteristic woolly appearance. The 30 to 40 radial thorns are spreading, reddish or yellowish-brown and turn grey with age, measuring 3 to 8 millimetres long. A single central prickle, sometimes absent, can reach 2 to 5 centimetres in length. The cephalium, a lateral floriferous structure, consists of light brown to grey wool that can grow up to 3 centimetres long and extend a metre along the stem. The nocturnal, funnel-shaped flowers are cream-white in and measure between 4.5 and 5.5 centimetres long with a diameter of 3 to 3.5 centimetres. They are partially hidden in the "wool". The almost spherical and usually purple fruits measure about 2.5 centimetres in length and width. However, this cactus rarely flowers in cultivation, especially indoors.

Espostoa lanata is relatively easy to grow indoors. It prefers fertile, well-draining cactus-type substrate, enriched with perlite or coarse sand, with generous watering in summer, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings. Monthly fertilisation with a cactus-specific fertiliser is recommended. In winter, the plant should be kept dry and protected from the cold. In theory, this species is hardy down to -12°C, but only if the winter is very dry. A sunny outdoor exposure in summer promotes optimal growth. Under favourable conditions, Espostoa lanata can grow 20 centimetres per year. It can be grown indoors year-round behind a sunny south-facing window.

Indoors, Espostoa lanata thrives best in a large terracotta pot, which ensures good root aeration and effective drainage. It works well in a composition with other columnar cacti such as Cleistocactus strausii or a group of low-growing succulents likeAgave stricta. Surrounded by large stones, all these plants will evoke the arid landscapes of its natural habitat.