San Pedro Variegated (Echinopsis pachanoi variegata) Buenavista

Zamnesia - San Pedro Variegated: A Collector’s Cut of Mescaline Cactus

Found throughout the Andes Mountain range at altitudes of up to 3,000m, the San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi) has long played a central role in traditional Andean culture. Rich in mescaline and other unique alkaloids, it's been a pillar of religious practice in the region, being used in divinations, rites of passage, cleansing, and more. Out in nature, you'll find several varieties of San Pedro, which can vary in appearance, size, and the number of ribs they form. Now, we've also managed to track down this unique cultivated variety boasting up to 7 ribs with yellow-green variegation and discolouration—a must-have for collectors, cactus enthusiasts, and psychonauts alike!

What Is Variegated San Pedro?

The San Pedro cactus is native to the South American Andes. But we didn't find this unique variegated variety by trekking across the Altiplano—instead, we found it roughly 20 years ago, tucked away in a corner of a humble nursery in Buenavista, Tenerife, on the Canary Islands. At that time, it was still a regular San Pedro variety, but after years of breeding and cloning, it eventually formed a unique variegata, which our experts stabilised and turned into mother stock, before finally making it available for sale. Note that you might find variegated San Pedro cacti elsewhere, but they differ from the "Buenavista" variety, which has spent years adapting to a Meditarranean climate and flourishes in areas with hot, dry summers and mild winters with mild rainfall.

Variegated San Pedro "Buenavista" is a unique cultivated variety of the San Pedro cactus with up to 7 ribs and light yellow variegation intertwined with the cactus' natural green chlorophyll. Note that no two variegated San Pedro cuts are the same, and both the amount and colour of variegation will vary from one plant to another. Some cacti are simply more variegated than others.

What Is Variegation?

Variegation refers to the appearance of different colour zones in a plant's leaves, stems, or fruits. It is a common feature of houseplants like Pothus, spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum), and snake plants (Sansevieria trifasciata) and is caused by mutations that affect chlorophyll production. While variegation occurs naturally in many plants native to the understory of tropical rainforests, it isn't common at all in cacti—making this variegated San Pedro a must-have for collectors.

How To Grow Variegated San Pedro Cactus

At Zamnesia, we pride ourselves on the quality of our cactus cuttings. Our experts cultivate all our cactus varieties in-house and only ever take cuttings from prime parent plants that are vigorous, healthy, and free of disease or pests. We also carefully cure all our cuttings, ensuring they heal properly before shipping.

Here's how to plant your variegated San Pedro cutting once you receive it:

1. For the best results, we recommend planting your San Pedro cutting as soon as you receive it.
2. Fill a clean pot with cactus soil, which is typically sandy and contains fewer nutrients than regular potting soil. Place your cutting into the soil vertically (with the callused side in the soil) or lie it across the soil horizontally, depending on how you want the cactus to grow.
3. Water your cactus cutting well after planting and for the coming weeks—this will promote the growth of healthy roots. Ensure the soil dries out completely between waterings.
4. Keep young cuttings in a well-lit area without direct sunlight. After a few weeks, your cuttings should develop small roots and can be gradually brought out into the sun.
5. Water rooted cacti sparingly.

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