How To Grow Your Own Mescaline Cactus From Seed

Mescaline is a natural hallucinogenic generated by cactus species such as peyote, San Pedro, and Peruvian torch. Even if you don’t have much gardening knowledge, these cacti are simple to cultivate. It does, however, need a great deal of patience.

Cacti in general are tough plants that, once established, can flourish in the worst environments, although they grow slowly. You could harvest at the one-year mark if you’re ready to sacrifice a whole cactus for a single trip. The ideal approach is to cultivate them for several years until they reach a size that allows you to enjoy the results of your labor without destroying your plant.

Learn how to cultivate your own mescaline cactus from seed by following this simple instructions. We’ll help you through every step of the process, from selecting the correct soil to caring for your cacti at each stage of their lives.

Materials And Equipment

Mescaline cactus seeds
Growing medium
Sand or vermiculite
Clay pots
Cotton wool
Water tray
Plastic wrap or storage box with clear lid
Muslin cloth
Aquarium rocks
Plastic fork
Tweezers

Choose The Right Growing Medium

Cactus dirt is widely accessible and reasonably priced. It’s an excellent starting point. If you want to make your own, use a basic mixture of half perlite and half compost. Cacti require a mix of drainage and aeration, and one will suffice.

You shouldn’t need to sterilise your mix if you use high-quality compost. Sterilisation purifies the soil by using heat and/or fungicide, but it also kills off most, if not all, of the helpful bacteria and other microorganisms that would normally nourish your cacti’s root system. Keeping your substrate airy and well-drained should eradicate any rot or mould problems and be as effective as soil sterilizing.

There is one main concern when selecting the growth media (soil or substrate): Do you wish to increase cactus or mescaline production? Mescaline is an alkaloid produced by certain varieties of cactus in reaction to stress. Improper soil can cause stress in a variety of ways. As a result, the substrate you choose can affect whether you produce enormous, gorgeous, perfectly shaped mescaline cacti or cacti that are more potent but less visually pleasing.

However, the soil must be excellent enough at this time for the seeds to germinate and the budding cactus to thrive. It’s better to start with a medium suited for optimal development and apply stress once the young plants have established themselves.

Fill The Pots With Growing Medium

If feasible, use shallow clay pots with drainage holes. This material is permeable, allowing the soil to drain rapidly and protecting the roots from rot. Cover the drainage holes with some cotton wool. Form wicks by pulling a few cotton threads up. You limit the possibility of overwatering or washing away the small cactus seeds by pulling water up from the bottom of the container.

Fill the pots just over halfway with the growth material. Gently press the dirt to softly compress it so that it does not slide around as you move the pot. Do not compact the dirt too firmly.

Plant The Mescaline Cactus Seeds

Spread the seeds evenly throughout the soil’s surface. If you don’t have a lot of seeds, thread them together around 4-5cm apart. Do not press them into the ground. If you do, the small cactus seeds will not have the energy to emerge from the surface. Spread a thin layer of sand or vermiculite on the surface to barely cover them.

Place the pots in a shallowly filled tray of water. Allow the water to wick up to the surface until it is somewhat moist. Remove the pots from the water tray and set them aside to drain.

Create A Greenhouse-like Growing Environment

Seeds of mescaline cactus germinate best in a warm, humid environment. This may be accomplished by either wrapping the individual pots in plastic wrap or storing all of the pots in a bigger storage container with a transparent lid. Place them near a sunny window, where they will receive lots of warmth and light. Direct light is required for a few hours per day; the rest of the time, indirect or shaded light is required.

Keep the pots moist but not dripping wet. Fill the bottom of a bigger storage container with about 12 cm of tepid water. Cold or hot water can also harm germinating seedlings. Once a day, open the container to allow fresh air in. Wipe any moisture from the lid while it’s open.

If you wrapped your pots in plastic wrap, put them back in the watering tray when the soil seems dry. You may simply remove the plastic wrap and spray the top lightly. Watering from the bottom, on the other hand, will result in stronger roots. At this time, take care not to overwater or allow the soil to totally dry up.

Watch For Small Seedlings To Appear

Small seedlings will sprout from the soil after around two weeks. The little, light green orbs may require close inspection.

Allow the seedlings another week or two to mature. Replace the plastic wrap or top with a thin piece of muslin fabric after they are completely established to allow for improved airflow. Apply a thin coating of aquarium gravel to the soil’s surface to keep moisture in. Continue to water the pots from the bottom.

At this stage, baby mescaline cacti are extremely light sensitive. They should be dark green when healthy. If they don’t get enough sunshine, they will turn yellow. They become red or brown when exposed to too much light. To keep them healthy, adjust the lighting as needed.

Transplant After A Minimum Of Five Months Grown

It will take around five months for the mescaline seedlings to mature enough to be securely transferred into their own pots. Before transplanting, gently split and pull the roots apart using a plastic fork.

Assemble a group of little pots and fill them halfway with growth media. Place each cactus seedling into its own pot using tweezers. Using tweezers, hold the seedling upright, then add additional media until it’s secure. To retain moisture, water lightly from the top and add gravel to the soil’s surface.

The juvenile mescaline cactus can now be placed on a bright windowsill until it outgrows its new container. When the pot seems extremely light, water sparingly. Watering from the bottom is no longer necessary; always apply water to the soil surrounding the cactus rather than putting water on top of the plant.

If you live in a climate where cacti may be grown outside all year, you can transplant them to an appropriate location in your yard or garden.

How To Care For Mescaline Cacti

Mescaline cactus are tough plants that can tolerate a lot of neglect, but they do require some attention and maintenance. Here are some precautions you may do to preserve their health.

Provide Adequate Lighting

Provide your seedlings with at least four hours of bright, filtered sunshine once they have grown into fully established transplants. Mescaline cacti, on the other hand, can become sunburned if exposed to too much direct sunshine. Move any dark or discolored spots to the shade if you see them.

Plant in a protected spot where they will receive both shade and sunlight throughout the day if growing outside. Keeping them in pots allows you to simply move them around depending on the weather and other variables.

Feed And Water Based On Their Needs

Cacti do not require as much water as other plants, but they still require some. Water them when the dirt on the surface seems dry and the pot feels light. This is usually done twice a week. During very hot or dry conditions, they may require additional water.

The organic matter in the compost you used throughout the germination and seedling phases should have been sufficient to support the developing cacti, but mature plants will require feeding on a regular basis. Choose a low-nitrogen fertilizer since it may easily burn cactus; a 7-40-6 or 1-7-6 combination is ideal. You may either add a tiny bit to their water once or twice a week, or mix a bigger amount into the top of the soil every 4-6 weeks. Take cautious not to overfeed.

Cacti go dormant in the winter and don’t need nearly as much feed or water as they do during the summer. If you intend to transplant your cactus, let them dry out for two weeks before and after the relocation.

Keep Your Cacti Warm

Mescaline cacti like a warm climate. They should be kept at 20oC or warmer during the day to be active, but they develop the fastest when the temperature stays between 25-35oC throughout the day. During the growth season, the temperature should not go below 15oC at night.

Caring For Mescaline Cacti In The Winter

Cactus activity will decrease as temps fall. They will eventually become dormant and will not require nearly as much food or water as they did during their growth season. Bring your outside plants inside unless you live in a temperate climate. They may continue to develop at a very modest rate if you have a bright, sunny spot where they can thrive through the winter.

Water them when the soil seems dry, but use less water. If you notice them shriveling up, give them a bit extra. Overwatering at this time might lead them to rot, so err on the side of “not enough” rather than “too much”.

Growing Mescaline Cacti From Seed — The Bottom Line

Growing mescaline cactus from seed is a simple, gratifying pastime that anybody with the necessary supplies and patience can do. It’s not difficult, but it does take time. Once you’ve gathered a collection of baby cactus, try with different types of soil, feed, and other variables to see how they affect the overall potency and effect when it’s time to harvest. It may take years, but you may be able to fine-tune the psychedelic qualities of your home-grown mescaline for the ultimate experience!