Plant Care Cereus Tetragonus

Cereus Tetragonus

4.8 out of 5 (28 experiences)

Cereus Tetragonus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Cereus Tetragonus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

Also known as

Fairy Castle Cactus, Fairy Castle Cactus and Cereus tetragonus

Taxonomy

Acanthocereus tetragonus 'Fairy Castle'
Acanthocereus
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Cereus Tetragonus

💦 Water

How often to water your Cereus Tetragonus

Water needs for Cereus Tetragonus
0.5 cups
every 12

Cereus Tetragonus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Cereus Tetragonus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Fairy Castle Cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Cereus Tetragonus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Cereus Tetragonus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Cereus Tetragonus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cereus Tetragonus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cereus Tetragonus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cereus Tetragonus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Cereus Tetragonus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #FairyCastleCactus
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Cereus Tetragonus is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Fairy Castle Cactus →

Common Fairy Castle Cactus Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Cereus Tetragonus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cereus Tetragonus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Fairy Castle Cactus Light Requirements →

Fairy Castle Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

Fairy Castle Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Cereus Tetragonus enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Fairy Castle Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Cereus Tetragonus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot Fairy Castle Cactus →


💩 Fertilizer

Cereus Tetragonus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Fairy Castle Cactus →


🌎 Native Region

Cereus Tetragonus is native to Tropical Americas and the Caribbean.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Cereus Tetragonus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Fairy Castle Cactus →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cereus Tetragonus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Fairy Castle Cactus Temperature Tolerance →


🌱 Propagation

Cereus Tetragonus can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Fairy Castle Cactus →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Cereus Tetragonus

Cereus Tetragonus

Cereus Tetragonus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Cereus Tetragonus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 20
Cereus Tetragonus has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 7
Cereus Tetragonus has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 3
Cereus Tetragonus has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 2
@Glassfull avatar
@@Glassfull
leaf-1 42 Plants
xp 8,286 XP
globe Chesapeake, VA
01/12/2022

I love this little guy. His shape is really pretty and he is easy to take care of. Just a little water per the apps recommendations. Haven’t had any issues with pests.

@lonell_ avatar
@@lonell_
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 90 XP
globe Des Moines, IA
11/10/2021

Definitely a cactus worth having if you like succulents and cacti or specialize in caring for those! I found it underwhelming as a lover of indoor tropical plants, but she is nice to look at and plays well with other succulents!

Survivor Survivor
@isb avatar
@@isb
leaf-1 39 Plants
xp 2,630 XP
10/16/2021

Sturdy plant!!

Survivor Survivor
@PearlyBird avatar
@@PearlyBird
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 552 XP
globe Rochester, NY
09/17/2021

Bro. Look at it. Masterpiece

@w0rmslut avatar
@@w0rmslut
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 110 XP
globe Phoenix, AZ
09/05/2021

pretty

Survivor Survivor
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@no_thumbs avatar
@@no_thumbs
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 156 XP
globe South Kingstown, RI
08/23/2021

very hardy, low maintenance, and fast growing

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@el1se avatar
@@el1se
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 124 XP
globe Rye, England
08/12/2021

Hardy little thing, had for years :)

Survivor Survivor
Rachel avatar
@Rachel
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 114 XP
06/07/2021

Very hearty plant that is very pleasing to the eye. Survives very well in harsh conditions.

Survivor Survivor
@Lunarlea avatar
@@Lunarlea
leaf-1 42 Plants
xp 3,131 XP
globe Denver, CO
04/07/2021

The fairy castle cactus is just so magical and love bright direct sunlight!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor

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