Totem Pole Cactus Care and Propagation Guide

Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus ‘Totem Pole’

A Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus, also known as the Totem Pole Cactus, is a beautiful cactus you can have indoors or outdoors that is easy to care for and even propagate.

The Pachycerus Schottii Monstrosus ‘Totem Pole’ loves the sun and requires little water. Keep your cactus in a warm place, and be careful not to increase the humidity too much. The Totem Pole Cactus is propagated by cutting a stalk, letting it callous, then planting it in soil.

In this article, I will discuss the proper way to care for your

so that it will thrive and how to correctly propagate one so that you can have multiple of these beautiful cacti. Let’s jump right in!

Totem Pole Cactus Propagation Guide

It can be intimidating when propagating a Pachycereus Schotti Monstrosus, but it is relatively simple to do as long as you follow directions.

Before propagating, you’ll need to have a pot and soil ready. You must use potting soil that’s made specifically for a cactus. It’s also helpful to add in well-draining materials such as perlite.

Have this soil mixture ready in a big pot for the pieces.
Next, grab a sharp knife; you don’t want a dull one or dull scissors because you need a clean cut.
You’ll need to cut a piece anywhere from about 6 to 12 inches (15.24-30.48 cm) long. 12 inches (30.48 cm) is probably best to get two cuttings for your plant, but otherwise, 6 inches (15.24 cm) will do.
Cut in the middle of the stalk to remove the top part of the cactus. Cut at an angle; this will help prevent moisture or water from building up on the top and harming your cactus. If you’re doing a large cutting, cut that exact cutting in half to have a top piece and a middle piece.
You won’t be able to plant this cutting right away. You need to let the cutting(s) sit out until they callous. A callous is almost like a scab; the cut part of the cactus will heal over and may appear a light brown color.
Before putting your cutting in the soil, use a mister to moisten your soil lightly. You don’t need to water it entirely when planting a cutting.
Plant the cutting upright in the soil mixture and ensure it stays in place. The propagation part is complete. Now, roots will begin to grow from the bottom part that’s in the soil.
For the middle piece, you’re going to put it sideways on top of the soil. Roots will grow from both ends of the cutting, and you’ll get a cactus stalk on both sides. You don’t need to cover this piece entirely with soil.
Roots could take a few weeks or longer to sprout; this is normal. Totem Pole Cacti grow extremely slowly, so you’re not going to notice much growth for a while. Make sure you continue taking care of your cutting. As long as they look healthy, you don’t have to worry.

You should not water the cutting(s) for the first couple of weeks because it won’t have roots that can absorb the water. If you do water it during this time, it could suffocate and kill the cutting. Ensure you put your planted cutting(s) in a sunny spot to promote growth.

A Totem Pole Cactus does not produce seeds, so you can not grow another cactus from a seedling. So, cutting is the best way to propagate this cactus. Remember, the cutting is just like the parent plant, and when it comes to general care, it needs the same type of care the adult plant needs.

General Care and Keeping of the Totem Pole Cactus

The Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus doesn’t require much attention, so it’s a great option if you want a tolerant plant. Since it’s a cactus, the watering schedule is minimal, and it loves the sun.

The Totem Pole Cactus can grow from 10 to 12 feet (3.05-3.66 cm) tall and grow pretty wide when new stems form. This cactus is a long-term commitment because it can live ten years or longer if adequately cared for.

There are a few rules to follow regarding general care, but beyond these, your Totem Pole Cactus will be happy and healthy without you hovering over it.

Water

When watering the Totem Pole Cactus, you’ll need to give it less water than you think. Since it’s a cactus, it’s very tolerant of drought and can survive long periods without water; however, it won’t do as well if you’re drowning it. That’s a sure way to kill the cactus.

When a cactus absorbs water, it stores it in its stems for when it needs it. Make sure the soil dries out completely before watering it again.

If you overwater the Totem Pole Cactus, you’ll notice its physical form begin to change. Its stems will begin to look mushy. The mushiness is because the excess water has nowhere else to go. You may also see brown spots on the cactus.

If you’re underwatering your cactus, then the cactus will appear dry and shriveled in some areas. However, this will be hard to achieve, considering they do well without being watered for so long.

During the spring and summer, you can water the Totem Pole Cactus every few weeks. It won’t need as much during the winter, and you can water it once a month.

It’s also a good idea to get unglazed flower pots because these allow water to evaporate easier, aiding in drying out the soil.

The MUZHI Unglazed Ceramic Flower Pot (available on Amazon.com) is a great option among unglazed planters. It comes in 3 different sizes to accommodate your Totem Pole Cactus. They are a neutral tan/brown color, matching just about any theme you have in your home.

Light

The Totem Pole Cactus loves direct sunlight. It requires full sun and doesn’t need any shade.

If you have the cactus indoors, putting it right by a window will be a great place for it. A south-facing window would be a great spot for the cactus to get direct sunlight.

If you don’t have your cactus near the appropriate light, it may lean towards the sun to try and get the light it needs. This leaning can harm your cactus as it can cause breakage and negatively affect the roots.

Soil/Fertilizer

Probably one of the most crucial things to get right is the type of soil you use for your Totem Pole Cactus. Use potting soil that says it’s made for cacti and succulents. Cactus need loose and well-draining soil. So, sandy soil mixed with something to improve aeration, like perlite, is the best for this.

Temperature/Humidity

When people think of a cactus, they may also think of the desert. A Totem Pole Cactus prefers a warm, dry environment because they are made for conditions such as those found in a desert.

Cactus don’t like excess water, so having a moist environment is not beneficial for them. You don’t need a humidifier as you would some plants.

Cacti live in warm and hot temperatures, so they do not do well in the cold. The lowest recommended temperature for your cactus is about 50°F (10°C). However, they’ll do best in an environment of about 70°F (21.11°C) or higher.

Repotting

A Totem Pole Cactus growth is excruciatingly slow, so frequent repotting isn’t necessary. At most, you’ll need to repot it every few years because they reach significant heights as they age.

When it comes time to repot the cactus, do it in the spring or summer during the cacti’s growing season. Repotting in the growing season will help it to root down in its new pot. Only use a pot a couple of inches larger than the current one.

When putting the cactus into the new pot, carefully break up the roots so they can burrow into the new soil and grow into the space available.

Common Issues With Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus

When it comes to any plant, there can be a risk of disease and bug infestations. The Totem Pole Cactus is no exception. Let’s go over a few common issues to look out for when it comes to the Totem Pole Cactus and how to fix them.

Root Rot

A common issue among the Totem Pole Cactus is root rot because plant owners commonly overwater their cacti. The overwatering leads to soggy roots, which then get root rot from the excess moisture.

You can sometimes stop root rot before it spreads to the rest of your cactus, but you have to catch it early on. If you don’t, it will ultimately kill your cactus. The devastating nature of root rot is why it’s better to underwater your cactus because it can recover from that much easier than being overwatered.

The signs that your Totem Pole Cactus has root rot are yellow or brown discoloration, stunted growth, and the roots will be brownish. You may also note sections of your cactus turning soft and mushy as the cactus becomes oversaturated with water.

Typically, by the time you notice root rot, the cactus is already dying when you notice root rot. Your best bet is to save the healthy sections and use them to propagate a new plant.

If you’ve somehow managed to catch the root rot just as it affects the roots, you can try cutting away the affected roots and repotting your cactus in fresh potting soil. Avoid watering your Totem Pole Cactus for a few weeks, and then resume a cautious watering schedule.

Mealybug and Scale Infestations

Unfortunately, cacti are susceptible to infestations by nasty pests, such as mealybugs and scale, that love to feed on cacti. The infestation can grow too much if left alone, and your cactus will die.

Mealybugs are little white insects that can infect your cactus. Sometimes they can be hard to see at the beginning stages of infestation because of their size. If you find a mealybug infestation, you can try removing them with a soap and water mixture or even rubbing alcohol.

Using these things on your cactus shouldn’t cause any harm to the plant, only the mealybugs. If the above methods don’t work, you may need to try an insecticide to kill them off. However, if the infestation has gone too far, nothing will work, and you’ve lost your cactus to them, unfortunately.

Scale infections are also caused by white bugs, but they appear like a white raised bump on your cactus to give it a scaly-like appearance. These bugs latch onto your cactus and suck out the sap, eventually leading to the death of your cactus if left alone.

Early on in the infestation, try to scrape off what you see, and you can also try the soap/water mixture or rubbing alcohol. However, you’ll need a plant insecticide for larger, more intense infestations.

If you need an insecticide, Grower’s Ally Natural Organic Insecticide (available on Amazon.com) is a great choice. It’s safe for indoor plants and can kill off several types of bug infestations. It’s also very affordable.

Final Thoughts

The Pachycereus Schottii Monstrosus is easily propagated through cuttings. Once you follow the instructions on how to get a cutting, you just need to plant it properly and watch it thrive.

The Totem Pole Cactus needs less water than you think and loves the sun and warmer temperatures. Well-draining soil made for cacti is required for the cactus to be healthy.

Check your cactus for root rot or infestations such as mealybugs and scale. Root rot can be prevented by not overwatering your Totem Pole Cactus. Large mealybug or scale infestations may require insecticide.