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--- cultivation:conditions [2026/06/28 19:58] – vaugith
+++ cultivation:conditions [2026/06/30 16:10] (current) – Changed etiolation link to virology section vaugith
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 ==== Light ====
-Most of these cacti can handle full all day sun in all but the most UV intense climates, though they genetically vary in their preference of total amount of light per day. However all light changes must be made gradually or they will experience sunburn. A sudden swing in the weather from cloudy and 80F highs one week to sunny and 95F the next week is enough to cause sunburn. First they will appear yellow on the side facing the sun and then they will burn, which eventually will turn to a permanent scar. Throwing up some 30-40% shadecloth that covers them during the hottest hours of the day, 2:30-5:30p, should be sufficient to prevent sunburn. Morning light is more blue spectrum and evening light is more red spectrum. These cacti appreciate blue spectrum more - it promotes wider growth, while red spectrum promotes taller growth. UV spectrum promotes alkaloid production. More shaded conditions or shorter light hours in spring and fall will result in more blue farina production. Insufficient light results in skinny new growth at the tip called etiolation, which is permanent.
+Most of these cacti can handle full all day sun in all but the most UV intense climates, though they genetically vary in their preference of total amount of light per day. However all light changes must be made gradually or they will experience sunburn. A sudden swing in the weather from cloudy and 80F highs one week to sunny and 95F the next week is enough to cause sunburn. First they will appear yellow on the side facing the sun and then they will burn, which eventually will turn to a permanent scar. Throwing up some 30-40% shadecloth that covers them during the hottest hours of the day, 2:30-5:30p, should be sufficient to prevent sunburn. Morning light is more blue spectrum and evening light is more red spectrum. These cacti appreciate blue spectrum more - it promotes wider growth, while red spectrum promotes taller growth. UV spectrum promotes alkaloid production. More shaded conditions or shorter light hours in spring and fall will result in more blue farina production. Insufficient light results in skinny new growth at the tip called [[:virology:e:etiolation|etiolation]], which is permanent.
 == Indoor lighting ==
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 == Watering frequency based on temperature ==
-Judge soil moisture by sticking a finger a couple knuckles deep down into the substrate. If it's dry beneath the surface, it's time to water. When it's really hot it's fine to water before the soil is thoroughly bone dry. When daily highs are below 68F but above 60F it's fine to let the soil sit dry for a few days before watering again. When daily highs are forecasted to drop below 60F for a few days or when nightly lows are forecasted to dip below 35F, I recommend you let the soil dry out before these conditions occur to prevent issues. If frost is in the forecast, cover column tips with styrofoam cups. If the soil is dry, most varieties of Trichocereus will survive nightly lows down to 25F or lower, as long as the temperature rises back above freezing when the sun comes up, but each variety has its own limitations.
+Judge soil moisture by sticking a finger a couple knuckles deep down into the substrate. If it's dry beneath the surface, it's time to water. When it's really hot it's fine to water before the soil is thoroughly bone dry. When daily highs are below 68F but above 60F it's fine to let the soil sit dry for a few days before watering again. When daily highs are forecasted to drop below 60F for a few days or when nightly lows are forecasted to dip below 35F, I recommend you let the soil dry out before these conditions occur to prevent issues. If frost is in the forecast, cover column tips with styrofoam cups. If the soil is dry, most varieties of Trichocereus will survive nightly lows down to 25F or lower, as long as the temperature rises back above freezing when the sun comes up, but each variety has its own limitations. For more information on how to care for these cacti when temperatures are low, see [[:cultivation:dormancy|dormancy]].
 == Signs of over and under watering ==