Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Blue Ghost
Blue Ghost is a branching column cactus from Brazil, also sold as Blue Torch, with stems that turn a powdery blue as they age. The blue color is strongest in full sun. It grows slowly into a clump of upright stems that can reach about 12 feet, and it does well in a large pot or in the ground. Older plants open big white flowers at night.
Best for: large patio pots and entry containers, a blue accent in a cactus bed, and warm, frost-protected spots where it can stay out year round.
It grows well in a large pot, which also makes it easy to shelter on frost nights. Use a fast-draining cactus mix and let it dry between waterings.
The stems start olive and turn powder blue with age, and full sun brings out the strongest color. Plant it where it gets sun most of the day.
Mature plants open large, light-colored, scented flowers at night. Each one lasts less than a day, so check the plant early in the morning.
It does not handle hard frost and is damaged near freezing. Cold, wet soil in winter leads to rot, so water lightly in the cool months.
Wait about a week after planting before the first water. Then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. In cooler weather, water only after two to four weeks without rain.
Water regularly from late spring to early fall and let the soil dry between soaks. Water only lightly the rest of the year, since cold, wet soil causes rot.
Plant it with the same side facing the sun as in the nursery. Shade a new plant lightly its first summer, then let it have full sun for the best blue color.
It is damaged near freezing. On frost nights, put a foam cup on top of each stem, or cover the plant with frost cloth to the ground. Move potted plants under cover.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is Blue Ghost the same as Blue Torch?
Yes, it is the same kind of cactus, Pilosocereus pachycladus, and it is also sold under the older name Pilosocereus azureus. Look for the powder-blue stems either way.
How big does Blue Ghost get?
It can reach about 12 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide as a clump of branching columns. It grows slowly, so it stays pot sized for years.
How do I keep it blue?
Plant it in full sun. The stems start olive and turn bluer with age, and sun brings out the strongest color.
How cold can Blue Ghost take?
It does not handle hard frost and is damaged near 30°F. On cold nights, cap each stem tip with a foam cup, or move a potted plant under cover.
How often should I water it?
Water regularly from late spring to early fall, letting the soil dry between soaks. The rest of the year, water only lightly.
Can I grow Blue Ghost in a pot?
Yes, it does well in a pot or in the ground. A pot makes it easier to protect in winter, so use one with drainage holes and a fast-draining cactus mix.
Does Blue Ghost flower?
Older plants open large white flowers at night, and each one lasts less than a day. Young plants are grown for the blue stems, so expect to wait years for flowers.
Where is Blue Ghost from?
It comes from the semi-tropical dry areas of eastern Brazil. It is not frost resistant, so plan to cover it on frost nights.
Blue Ghost for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Blue Ghost (Pilosocereus pachycladus, also sold as Blue Torch or Pilosocereus azureus) is a slow, branching column cactus from Brazil with powder-blue stems. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard or pot, from sun and water to frost care and flowers.
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Blue Ghost cactus in Phoenix
Blue Ghost, also sold as Blue Torch, is a branching column cactus from Brazil with powder-blue stems. It grows slowly and does well in a large pot or a sheltered spot in the ground.
How to keep Blue Ghost blue
Plant it in full sun. The stems start olive and turn bluer with age, and sun brings out the strongest color.
Frost care for Blue Ghost
It is damaged near freezing. Cap each stem tip with a foam cup on frost nights, or move a potted plant under cover.
Watering Blue Ghost
Water regularly from late spring to early fall and let the soil dry between soaks. Water lightly the rest of the year.
Blue Ghost in pots
It grows well in large containers, which also makes it easy to protect in winter. Use a fast-draining cactus mix and a pot with drainage holes.
Blue Ghost flowers
Older plants open large, scented white flowers at night. Each one lasts less than a day.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.