A conversation piece in every cacti collection due to its reputation for being a hallucinogenic plant, the peyote cactus is often considered a collector’s item. Of course, its chemical properties are only revealed when the stems are consumed or assessed in a lab. The plant itself looks completely harmless when intact. It is also quite attractive and is thus grown as an ornamental.
The scientific name of peyote is Lophophora williamsii. It may often be mistaken for or used interchangeably with Lophophora diffusa, which is commonly termed ‘false peyote’. It is set apart by the smooth appearance of its spherical and low-growing stems. Usually unbranching, the stems are a dull or grayish shade of dark to blue green.
Peyote stems may be solitary or occur in large clusters. As they are spineless, they are remarkably easy to handle and propagate. The seedlings may have very tiny spines that eventually fall off. They grow to a maximum height of about 7 cm and may expand to a full diameter of 12 cm.
Peyote stems are superficially divided into a few bump-like ribs which give the plant a bulbous appearance. Each of these ribs may be dotted with an areole. Instead of spines, the areoles produce cream to light yellow tufts of wool-like hairs. Solitary pink flowers arise from the center of the crown in summer. When pollinated, these develop into sweet-tasting fruits.
History
Peyote is native to the southern reaches of North America and is principally distributed throughout Mexico. In the wild, it has the tendency to grow extremely slowly. Natural stands can be found close to limestone hills and in desert scrubs that are located up to 1900 meters above sea level. In protected areas, it is known for being quite abundant.
Unfortunately, due to land conversion and illegal harvesting, peyote may be considered a locally endangered species in some parts of its native range. Although wild harvesting of this species is illegal in Mexico, many poachers continue to take an interest in it due to its psychoactive properties and due to its novelty in the ornamental plant trade.
Peyote has historically been used for healing, religious, and ceremonial purposes by many indigenous tribes in Mexico and North America. It is considered a sacred medicine with uses that date as far back as 2,000 years ago. Many ethnic users of this plant claim that it strengthens their connection with spirits and with their gods.
It is now illegal to purchase, cultivate, and consume peyote in many parts of the western world. There are some exceptions, such as its use in religious ceremonies of indigenous groups that have been utilizing this plant for centuries. Before acquiring this species, make sure that it is not considered a restricted plant in your area.
Plant Facts
Scientific Name | Lophophora williamsii |
Common Names | Peyote, mescal buttons, divine cactus, devil’s root, divine herb, medicine of god, whiskey cactus, dumpling cactus |
Genus | Lophophora |
Family | Cactaceae |
Height | 7 cm |
Width | 12 cm |
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone | 10a-11b |
Origin | Southern Texas, Mexico |
Flower Colors | Pink |
Blooming Season | Summer |
Plant/Flower Special Features | Spherical stems, tufts of wooly hairs |
How to Plant Peyote
As peyote is a slow-growing plant and does not produce branches, it is usually planted using its seeds. Propagation can be done by uprooting and repotting its offsets, though not all plants are able to produce a fair number of these. To start peyote from its seeds, create a sterile germination setup and make sure to disinfect your hands before handling the seeds and soil.
To ensure favorable germination rates, your setup should be situated in an area with an ambient temperature of around 22C. The peyote seeds should ideally be sown in early spring. Note that they may take months to germinate and can even remain dormant for up to 10 years. Prepare the germination mixture by combining a standard potting mix with coarse sand and heavy grit.
Place the substrate mix in a germination tray or shallow pot. Thoroughly moisten the soil, but make sure excess water doesn’t pool into the bottom of the pot or cause the soil to become waterlogged. Carefully sprinkle the seeds onto the soil surface. You need not cover them in more soil.
Cover the pot or tray with a thin and clear layer of plastic for moisture retention. The soil may need to be misted every few days to prevent the seeds and seedlings from drying out. Once more seedlings begin to appear, you may reduce the humidity levels in your setup. After about 10 weeks, the seedlings may be watered directly or whenever the topsoil has dried out.
How to Propagate Peyote
Wild-sourced peyote may take 30 years to mature into flowering individuals, so seeds may be extremely hard to come by. Strains that are grown in cultivation tend to grow faster and may produce large colonies. These can be divided into clumps or individual cacti and repotted. Make sure to avoid separating offsets from the mother plant if they are less than at least 1 cm across.
The peyote offsets should be planted in pots that are slightly wider than their diameter. The pots should give room for them to expand. Eventually, they may also begin to produce their own colonies. Some horticulturists opt to hasten the growth of some stems by grafting them onto sturdier stock, such as a dragon fruit stem.
To graft a peyote stem, sterilize your cutting tools and then cleanly cut off the bottom or rooted part of the plant. Cut off the top few inches of your stock as well. The circumference of the exposed areas of tissue on both the peyote and the stock should be similar. Carefully align the peyote to the top of the cut stem and keep it in place with rubber bands. Remove the bands once the tissues have calloused over completely.
Care and Maintenance
Here are important cactus care tips you can follow:
Soil
As peyote is a desert plant with a preference for coarse and well-draining substrates, it should be grown in a gritty mixture and placed in a pot with drainage holes. Its taproot makes it quite susceptible to rot, so the substrate is extremely important when it comes to keeping the stem well-established and healthy.
The most ideal soil mix for peyote consists of granular components, like perlite, pumice, and coarse sand. The gaps in between the large particles promote rapid drainage and help keep the roots aerated. A store-bought succulent or cactus mix may suffice, though you may want to add more grit for good measure.
Avoid using soil toppings, especially around newly planted offsets and young peyote stems, as they may reduce evaporation rates or trap moisture in the soil. If need be, opt to use a thin layer of coarse pieces of pumice stone.
Water
Overwatering can quickly damage peyote stems, causing the roots to become rotten in a matter of days. Aim to thoroughly water the soil only when the substrate has dried out completely. From spring to summer, peyote can usually be watered once every 7-10 days. If you’re located in a low humidity and extremely arid area, a more frequent watering schedule may be advised.
As temperatures begin to cool, it will be necessary to water peyote more sparingly. The plant may not require any water at all through winter. If it is situated indoors, particularly in a room that gets chilly over the winter months, hold off watering completely. On rainy days, it is also advisable to delay watering.
When watering your peyote cacti, aim to moisten the soil instead of the stem tissues or wooly hairs. Excess moisture may get trapped in the crevices of the stems or in the tufts of hair. Moreover, always ensure that the plant is placed in a well-ventilated area after watering.
Fertilizer
Peyote does not necessarily require fertilizer as it can naturally thrive in poor substrates. The addition of conservative concentrations of plant nutrients, however, can hasten its growth and induce early flowering. Aim to provide the plant with fertilizer only during its growth period. Do not fertilize it in winter.
For peyote, the most ideal fertilizer is a well-balanced NPK solution at about half or one-fourth the strength recommended on the label. It’s important to properly dilute the concentration to prevent the roots from getting shocked. Apply fertilizer during watering periods to allow for the moisture to help drain out excess nutrients in the soil.
Sunlight
Peyote stems are usually able to tolerate direct sunlight, though those that have initially been cultivated in a nursery or greenhouse may easily scorch. Make sure to gradually acclimate the stems to full sunlight if you intend to situate them outdoors. In summer, those exposed to full sun may need to be protected with a shade cloth through midday.
In the wild, peyote is frequently found in the shade of larger shrubs or growing in between narrow rock crevices with edges that are cast in shadow for most of the day. This means that dappled or indirect light may be tolerated as long as all other parameters are optimized.
If your peyote is situated indoors, make sure it is placed close to a source of bright sunlight. A well-ventilated space close to a south or east-facing window would be best. Remember to rotate the pot occasionally to promote even growth.
Temperature and Humidity
As a desert cactus, peyote can thrive in a wide range of warm temperatures. Ideally, the best soil temperature for this species is 22C. It can, however, tolerate ambient temperatures of 7-37C as long as the soil is kept porous and largely dry. Outside of this range, this cactus may enter a period of dormancy as a means to conserve its water contents and prevent its roots from becoming damaged.
A peyote cactus need not be overwintered indoors if you are located in hardiness zones 10 and up. It will only require special treatment if temperatures drop to below 7C. The stems and roots are likely to deteriorate when exposed to frost, even if they have entered dormancy and the soil is kept dry. To prevent rot, avoid watering the soil throughout winter.
Once peyote is well-established and fully grown, they dislike high humidity conditions. In contrast, the seedlings require sufficient moisture to prevent them from drying out completely. High humidity may be tolerated by older plants as long as the soil is kept completely dry. It puts them at increased risk of root rot, however, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
Pruning
As peyote is a slow-growing cactus and rarely grows to more than 12 cm, it will not require pruning. Its flowers may be removed before they are fully spent or as they are developing to allow all available nutrients to support stem growth.
Repotting and Transplanting
Fresh soil should benefit the roots of well-established peyote cacti. This means that they should ideally be repotted every 2-3 years. Aim to plant the uprooted stems in a pot with a slightly larger diameter to make room for expansion and root growth. Note that the pot should not be much deeper than the full length of the roots.
Aim to repot peyote in the same porous soil formulation that was previously used. This should allow the roots to re-adjust quickly and become fully established. Closely inspect the roots of the plant for any damaged areas before burying them in soil. Spread them out in the new soil so that a sufficient surface area can collect nutrients.
Pests and Diseases
One of the biggest challenges to cultivating peyote is its roots’ sensitivity to excess moisture. The root and the entire stem can become fully rotten in a matter of days to weeks if damaged portions are not removed correctly. One of the first signs of rotten roots is a complete lack of growth during the supposed growth period. Uproot the stem to inspect the roots.
If there are any rotten portions, which would be extremely mushy and soft to the touch, they will need to be removed with sterilized tools. Re-sterilize the tools after every incision or cut to prevent contamination. Allow any exposed tissues to scab over completely before repotting the plant.
A weakened peyote can quickly succumb to a host of other pests and diseases. Make sure to isolate affected plants and treat them in a timely manner to prevent irreversible infestations. Common issues include spider mites, scale, mealybugs, thrips, and fungus gnats. These should be manually removed as soon as they are spotted.
Uses of Peyote
Of course, one of the most infamous ways to use the peyote cactus is as a hallucinogenic drug. It contains a cocktail of alkaloids which may induce psychedelic effects when consumed in small doses. Note that consumption of the plant may be dangerous and illegal due to the toxic effects of the compounds in high doses.
As much as possible, peyote should not be used for purposes outside of research and ornamental cultivation. Legal use is usually restricted to cultural and religious sects that have been using the plant for centuries.
Common Varieties and Cultivars
This charming cactus comes in a few stunning varieties with slightly different origins. Growth of this species in nurseries has also encouraged the production of some cultivars with variegation and with unique floral colors. Some taxonomically accepted ones are listed below.
- L. williamsii var. caespitosa
- L. williamsii var. caespitosa f. variegata
- L. williamsii var. fricii
- L. williamsii cv. Kikko
- L. williamsii var. pentagona
- L. williamsii var. cristata
- L. williamsii var. lewinii
Conclusion
If the peyote cactus can be legally grown in your area, you may wish to cultivate it for its lovely features. This plant is definitely a conversation piece, not just due to its reputation as a traditional medicinal plant but also due to the smoothness of its stems and its attractive flowers. Its slow growth rate should help keep it manageable in a small pot for many years.
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References
R.E. Schultes, The Appeal of Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) as a Medicine,
https://www.jstor.org/stable/661621
M.T. Klein, et al., Mescaline Concentrations in Three Principal Tissues of Lophophora williamsii (Cactaceae): Implications for Sustainable Harvesting Practices,
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