Trichocereus Grandiflorus: The Torch Cactus

• What is the Trichocereus Grandiflorus?
• Trichocereus Grandiflorus Strain Guide
• Trichocereus Grandiflorus Habitat and Distribution
• How to Propagate Trichocereus Grandiflorus
• Does Trichocereus Grandiflorus Contain Mescaline?
• Effects of Mescaline

What is the Trichocereus Grandiflorus?

The genus Trichocereus features many interesting species of cacti. Among them is the Trichocereus grandiflorus. This scientific name is synonymous with the Lobivia grandiflora, Lobivia grandiflorus, Helianthocereus grandiflora, and Helianthocereus grandiflorus.

All these scientific names pertain to the same plant – the Torch cactus.

The Torch cactus is closely related to the cactus genera Lobivia and Soehrensia, which is why it was sometimes included there.

Trichocereus Grandiflorus Strain Guide

The Torch cactus is a columnar succulent plant which can grow between 60 and 90cm tall. It has 12 to 18 ribs and stems which are 5 to 8cm in diameter. The bumpy nodes – areoles – are whitish brown, regularly spaced, and can grow up to 6cm long.

One of the defining characteristics of this cactus is its flowers. Trichocereus grandiflorus’ flowers are usually white and between 15 and 25 centimeters in size. The tubes are usually very hairy and countless hybrids are available on the market. The “grandiflora” of its scientific name literally translates to “large flower” which makes sense because most Trichocereus cacti have smaller flowers.

Trichocereus Grandiflorus Habitat and Distribution

This cactus originates from Argentina particularly around the Catamarca region. The Torch cactus can thrive indoors too as long as the temperatures and lighting are consistently set to resemble the tropical to temperate climate of its origin.

How to Propagate Trichocereus Grandiflorus

Because of its hardy constitution, it can grow a lot during one growing season alone as long as it’s watered. This cactus can withstand extreme temperatures including frost. However, this doesn’t mean you should put them in an environment that consistently tests its resilience.

Propagating your own Torch cactus is easy! By following the simple instructions below, you will be able to grow another cactus from your established Torch cactus. The best part is these procedures apply to most succulents.

Supplies:

All you need are:

• Knife
• Piece of cardboard/towel
• Container
• Soil
• Time and patience

Procedure:

1. Choose the appropriate length of the plant to cut. For full grown Torch cacti, the best length is 20 to 30cm from the top of the plant.
2. Take your knife, and clean it with soap and water. Sterilize the blade afterwards by using rubbing alcohol. Sterilized cutting tools are necessary to avoid spreading infection.
3. Dry the end of the cutting. This process is called callousing. The easiest way to do this is by exposing the open end to direct sunlight. While that particular area is exposed, make sure to cover the entire length of the cactus too prevent sunburn. Leave the cutting in the sun for 1 or 2 days then keep it in a dry or well-lit area inside your house.
4. The best thing about the cutting is you can store them for months without any problems as long as they’re kept away from direct sunlight. However, some surface mold may develop but a quick wipe will do the trick.
5. Once you’ve decided when to pot the cutting, choose a type of soil mixture that drains well. Stay away from houseplant soil which retains a lot of moisture. You can fill a container halfway with dry soil add perlite and some sand, then stick the cutting 3 to 5 inches deep into it.
6. When watering the Torch cactus, a good rule of thumb is to never water when the soil is too moist. Otherwise, you’d risk drowning your plant.
7. After a few months, roots would have formed and they can absorb the water much better. Move the Torch cactus under direct sunlight.
8. Enjoy your psychedelic mescaline cactus!

Which brings us to the next topic…

Does Trichocereus Grandiflorus Contain Mescaline?

Though the T. grandiflorus isn’t as well-known as its other relatives (T. pachanoi, T. bridgesii) when it comes to its traditional hallucinogenic effects, people are starting to take interest in this short columnar species.

Alexander Theodor “Sasha” Shulgin, an American organic chemist and author, studied over 230 psychoactive compounds for their psychedelic potential. One of his unpublished chemical analyses is his study of the T. grandiflorus which indicated the presence of N.N-Dimethyltryptamine, the powerful hallucinogenic substance contained in numerous plants used for rituals across different parts of Central and South America.

Unsatisfied with his initial findings, he subjected the T. grandiflorus to reanalysis and he was unable to confirm the presence of DMT. It appears he used a different variety of T. grandiflorus because several strain varieties do exist with the most common being white, yellow, and red.

Modern bioassay suggested the mescaline in the white-flowering varieties of the Torch cactus. The white-flowered cactus blooms at night. The white, psychedelic variety is referred to as Lobivia.

Effects of Mescaline

First of all, mescaline in the Torch cactus is a hallucinogenic substance which causes altered perceptions. It has been used for thousands of years by the Native Americans in Mexico for their religious and traditional ceremonies.

For the T. grandiflorus, removing the spines, peeling off the skin, and eating the cactus flesh is the most efficient way to ingest the psychedelic substance. Because the levels of mescaline in Torch cactus are quite low, its psychedelic effects are not as extreme as other Trichocereus cacti. People compare the trip to a light dose or threshold dose of MDMA.

A trip on T. grandiflorus can range from 6 to 12 hours. 30 minutes after ingesting the Torch cactus, you will feel nauseous and possibly vomit. In traditional ceremonies, this phase is seen as the body’s way of cleansing itself of impurities to prepare it for the transcendent experiences which will happen later on.

To prevent nausea, refrain from eating 6 hours before tripping on mescaline. After the initial nausea passes, you will peak at the 2^nd or 3^rd hour.

The effects of mescaline from the Torch cactus are:

• Altered consciousness state which comes with enhanced thought patterns and slowed time perception.
• Elation of mood. Unlike other more powerful psychedelics, a bad trip is almost unheard of from a low dose of mescaline extracted this cactus.
• Visual distortions. These are not as intense as hallucinations from psilocybin but at the very least, you can expect colors to become saturated and for your eyesight to be temporarily enhanced.

Is tripping on T. grandiflorus advised? It may be beneficial for a newbie psychonaut but if you’re looking for a different kind of trip, there are other types of mescaline cacti to suit your psychedelic needs. Choose and order psychedelic mescaline cactus today!