Get ready to light up your garden with the dazzling Golden torch cactus, also known as Echinopsis spachiana or Trichocereus spachianus, native to South America! This slow-growing columnar cactus is a showstopper with its cylindrical stems adorned with large woolly areoles. 

The base of this beauty branches out and can reach heights of up to 6.6 feet tall and 2.4 inches in diameter. And let's not forget about its stunning flowers - pure white and funnel-shaped, these beauties can get up to a whopping 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter and stretch out up to 8 inches (20 cm) long!  

They bloom around springtime during the night, so you had better be ready for an amazing night-time show when you have this little treasure around. So go ahead plant lovers, add this adorable Echinopsis to your collection, and bask in all its glory!

Watering Needs 

Desert plants like cacti are adapted to survive in harsh hot environments, storing water in their body and trunks for months at a time.  

Therefore, don't overwater them and ensure that the soil is dry or slightly damp when caring for your Golden Torch Cactus. 

Light Requirements 

Like most cacti, the Golden torch cactus loves lots of light. It is a type of plant that requires full sun (bright light) to thrive. When grown as a houseplant, it should be placed in the sunniest spot in your home in order to receive the six to eight hours of bright sunlight that it needs each day. This usually means placing the plant in a south or west-facing window or using a grow light to provide supplemental light.  

Although it can survive in low light, it may suffer from stunted growth and faded colors. 

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

The Golden Torch cactus plant prefers sandy, well-drained soil, as excess moisture can promote root and stem rot. Planet Desert specializes in cacti and has specialized cactus potting soil that includes an organic substrate with mycorrhizae to help with the growth of a healthy root system to help your cactus thrive. As an alternative, you can create your own customized organic potting mix by combining equal portions of perlite, coarse sand, and potting soil.  

When it comes to fertilizing your cactus plant, it only needs a small amount of fertilizer applied once a year in spring. Cacti prefer an organic or natural fertilizer with lower doses of NPK with a maximum ratio of 5-10-5 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen. 

Hardiness Zones & More 

The Golden Torch cactus prefers warm, dry weather and will not tolerate cold or wet conditions for long periods. They have become common houseplants as a result of their particular suitability for indoor cultivation. Although they may survive briefly in temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit, these plants are best in environments that are above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.   

Therefore, they are suitable for outdoor cultivation all year round in USDA zones 9 through 11. Outside of these areas, growers can grow golden torch cactus year-round indoors or in pots so the plants can spend the winter indoors.