Trichocereus Cuzcoensis – Echinopsis Cuzcoensis
Current name: Echinopsis Cuzcoensis
Trichocereus cuzcoensis is now called Echinopsis Cuzcoensis under the new taxonomy. That means that it is an accepted species, despite it´s obvious similarity to Trichocereus Peruvianus. There are countless intermediates between Trichocereus Peruvianus and Trichocereus Cuzcoensis and there are many regional types, especially where both grow together, that show traits of both species. As an example, there are Peruvianoid forms of Trichocereus Cuzcoensis and there are specimens of Trichocereus Peruvianus that show some traits of Trichocereus Cuzcoensis. Personally, I think that Trichocereus Cuzcoensis and Trichocereus Peruvianus are so similar that it is not really reasonable to keep them divided. So far, i´ve seen at least 50-60 regional forms of Trichocereus Cuzcoensis and where ever they grow in neighborhood of Trichocereus Peruvianus, they hybridise with each other and form so called transitional forms. The whole group around Trichocereus Peruvianus is extremely variable and that also includes Trichocereus Cuzcoensis. Please note that Trichocereus cuzcoensis is MORE than just KK242, what has become THE textbook definition of a Trichocereus Cuzcoensis. And the hate surrounding the KK242 gave the whole group a bad rep and that´s absolutely not justified. There are countless varieties that come from the complex around Trichocereus Cuzcoensis and I will use this page this show you all the faces that Trichocereus Cuzcoensis can have. Because there are countless Trichocereus Cuzcoensis types, I´d like to ask you to submit me pics of your Cuzcoensis plants so we can get a better overview about what´s out there. I will publish every submitted photo, so if you have some for this page, send me a message on facebook or through the contact page.
Description: Echinopsis Cuzcoensis (Britton & Rose)
Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is a columnar cactus that grows like a tree and pups from the base. It can get more than five meters tall, though most collection plants that are grown in pots do not exceed 2 meters. However, in countries like Australia, there are many huge plants of Trichocereus Cuzcoensis to be found. New growth has a bright green color. It can get between 5 and 8 rounded Ribs and the areoles are approximately 1-2 centimeters apart from each other. Trichocereus Cuzcoensis has many, very strong spines. The number of spines is very variable but in most cases, I observed between 8-12 spines. The spines usually have a rounded, knobby base. New spine growth is yellow or dark brown while old spine growth is usually dark gray to white with slight black undertones or black spine tips. The spines usually are between 5-10 centimeters long.
Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is a night-flowering species but the flowers usually stay fresh until the morning of the next day. Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is self-sterile. That means that you need another specimen as pollen donor in order to produce seed.
Flower: The flower color is white and the flower is usually very large. It measures up to 16 centimeters, the tube is green and 7-8 centimeters long. Petals are approximately 5 centimeters long and there are hairs covering the flower.
Typus Location: Peru, Cuzco
Synonyms & Varieties: Trichocereus Knuthianus, Trichocereus Crassiarboreus, Cereus cuzcoensis, KK242, KK340, KK1911 Knuthianus,
Cultivation: Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is grown just like other Trichocereus species. It´s a very tough and frost hardy species and is able to cope with temperatures down to -9° celsius/15.8° Fahrenheit for short periods of time. The minimum average temperature is 10° celsius/50° fahrenheit. That temperature is also the minimum temperature that it needs to stay healthy during the winter.
Winter protection: Trichocereus Cuzcoensis can be overwintered in a bright and well ventilated place. The temperature should be around 9-10° celsius and the plants need to be completely dry. In european countries, the growers stop giving water and fertilizer in late summer (September or October) and take em in until early May or April. Keeping the plants dry and cold over winter also helps to increase flower production. Plants that are kept in a warm room over the winter lose their ability to flower. Besides, plants or seedlings need to be watered on a regular basis as soon as you have them in a heated room. If you want to overwinter a Trichocereus in a warm room (20°-30° celsius), you have to water it on a regular basis. You can only overwinter a plant “dry” if the temperatures are low.
Growing Trichocereus Cuzcoensis from seed: Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is very easy from seed, because it is relatively resistant to most pests. One of the biggest challenges is to get good quality seed because most Cuzcoensis seed on the market is pretty old and some do not even germinate. I am constantly looking for interesting new types of Trichocereus cuzcoensis, because they are amazing plants. Take a look at the pics from the Sacred Succulents Field Trips that are labeled “Cuzcoensis” and you will most likely agree. Germination temperature for Trichocereus Cuzcoensis is between 26° and 30° celsius. It only needs very little water to induce germinations and if you have quality seed, they will germinate within 2-6 weeks. If nothing shows up by the 6th week, you will probably not get germinations at all. In this case, remove the lid, let the soil dry out and start with the germination process again. Those cycles mimic the way this actually happens in nature and sometimes, you will be able to re-activate dead seed. You can also add GA-3, which is Gibberellic Acid or use a strong HPS or LED lamp to wake the seeds up, because ultraviolet light increases germination rates. In general, Trichocereus seeds need light to germinate, so dont cover them with soil.
Trichocereus Cuzcoensis Seed Sources: I will use this segment of my text to add good quality seed sources for Trichocereus Cuzcoensis but right now, I do not know any supplier that can provide viable seed. Köhres used to have them but right now, they are not available anymore. I know of one Peruvian Seed-Wholesaler that occasionally has some, but they are usually crap because in most cases, they will not be viable anymore.
This looks like a very typical Trichocereus Cuzcoensis KK242. This type was originally brought into cultivation by Karel Knize. He also sold various types of similar plants labeled as Trichocereus Cuzcoensis, Trichocereus Macrogonus or Trichocereus Peruvianus. The label KK242 does not refer to a particular plant but the area where the seeds/cuttings were collected at. Because of that, there are many plants labeled KK242 which are NOT a Trichocereus Cuzcoensis. The type just looks so unique and remarkable that it stuck and most plants that look like this are usually identified as KK242. Which is not really correct because that´s just one of the many types that grow within the KK242 range. However, most of the KK242 are in fact Trichocereus Cuzcoensis. Pic: Master Evan
Another KK242
Copyright: K.Trout – This probably shows the Knuthianus variety.
A large mother plant. Potentially the Tarmaensis Variety of Cuzcoensis
One of the many faces of KK242. Copyright K.Trout
Copyright: Ben Kamm, Sacred Succulents
Trichocereus Cuzcoensis - Echinopsis Cuzcoensis
