Identifying a Mystery Columnar Cactus

Cactus ID: Cleistocactus samaipatanus

A cactus grown by Sorensen Greenhouses in Canada, with a glued-on fake flower, is identified as Cleistocactus samaipatanus (initially guessed as Echinocereus or Echinopsis).

Immediate Care

• Repot in a container with drainage holes, using well-draining cactus mix.
• Remove the dead arm next to the healthy stem; check for rot.
• Gently remove the glued straw flower.
• If rot is found in the healthy stem, cut back to clean tissue, treat with fungicide, and callous before repotting.

General Care

Cleistocactus samaipatanus prefers bright light, infrequent watering (soil dry between), and cool, dry winter dormancy.