Reviving 2 Saguaro Plants
Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:08 am
When I moved out here to Indio Ca, I immediately got bitten with the idea of acquiring a Saguaro. That idea was squashed when it became apparent the prices for mature plants are just way above anything I was willing to pay. A year later the 3 Home Depots all received 5 each 3ft Saguaro's. But at $599.00 still way out of my range. 6 months into them sitting at the stores, 2 stores lowered the prices down to $400. They went fast. The home Depot near me did not lower the price and the 5 have sat there since being delivered. This store did little to care for them. In July I had stopped in the store and got into a conversation with the Plant Buying Manager. I inquired about the Saguaro's. He made me an offer I could not refuse. $200 each. I bought the 2 best inspite of their condition.
First concern was sun protection and sun acclimation. They had sat so long that any markings indication orientation were long gone. So inserted stakes and wrapped 3 sides in 60% shade cloth. .
Next was watering. The big Question was are the roots functioning at all. Saguaro plants are one of the only species that will not re-root if the system is badly damaged. And cuttings will not root. They survive for years before dying off. So functioning roots or not. After wrapping I watered the hell out of the plants. I waited a week and watered again with a fertilizer mix. I waited another week and watered them again. Then came a monsoon rain on Friday night. Hurricane Hilary followed Saturday night, all day Sunday a bit of Monday Morning. 5 days later more Monsoon rains hit off and on for a few days. This past 3 days are more rain off and on. I unwrapped them 7 days ago to see how they were doing. Here are todays pictures. The roots are alive and well. Both have plumped up really nice. Turned a nice dark green and some of the sun damaged has diminished Thet grow slow so it will be years and years before the damage heals completely.
Next will be the planting of these in the ground.
You can see how emaciated they are and all the sunburn sun stress they have been suffering. I decided that for the price it was worth trying to revive them. First concern was sun protection and sun acclimation. They had sat so long that any markings indication orientation were long gone. So inserted stakes and wrapped 3 sides in 60% shade cloth. .
Next was watering. The big Question was are the roots functioning at all. Saguaro plants are one of the only species that will not re-root if the system is badly damaged. And cuttings will not root. They survive for years before dying off. So functioning roots or not. After wrapping I watered the hell out of the plants. I waited a week and watered again with a fertilizer mix. I waited another week and watered them again. Then came a monsoon rain on Friday night. Hurricane Hilary followed Saturday night, all day Sunday a bit of Monday Morning. 5 days later more Monsoon rains hit off and on for a few days. This past 3 days are more rain off and on. I unwrapped them 7 days ago to see how they were doing. Here are todays pictures. The roots are alive and well. Both have plumped up really nice. Turned a nice dark green and some of the sun damaged has diminished Thet grow slow so it will be years and years before the damage heals completely.
Next will be the planting of these in the ground.