Cereus aethiops

A low, sprawling to semi-erect Cereus with dark, almost black-spined stems, widespread across the dry Monte and Espinal scrub of central and western Argentina. It is one of the hardiest columnar cacti, taking hot sunny summers and cold, dry winters with frost.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Open dry scrub, sandy plains and stony foothills of the Monte and Espinal, often sprawling among shrubs.

Recorded from about 20 to 2,000 m, median roughly 550 m; most sites are lowland plains and Andean foothills below 1,200 m.

ArgentinaUruguay

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its Public domain licence, unmodified.