Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Totem Pole Minor
Totem Pole Minor is the slimmer form of the totem pole cactus, with thinner, wavier columns than the major form. Like all totem poles it has no spines, just smooth green knobs, which makes it easy to place by pools, entries and patios. It grows slowly into an upright clump of irregular columns and suits pots, raised beds and cactus gardens. Give it full sun and very little water once rooted.
Best for: pots and raised beds, spineless accents near pools and entries, and cactus gardens with room for an upright clump.
The minor form has thinner, wavier columns than the major form. It makes a slim, knobby accent in a large pot or raised bed.
With no spines, thorns or glochids, it is one of the few column cacti used around pools, ponds and entries. Put it where a spiny cactus would be a hazard.
Plant it in full sun, even against a hot wall. Once rooted it needs water only in extreme drought.
Tips are damaged below about 25°F, so cap them on frost nights. Soggy soil causes rot, so use a gravelly mix.
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 deeply in the warm months only when the soil is dry, and give little or none in winter. Plants in pots dry out faster and need water more often than plants in the ground.
Plant it with the same side facing the sun as in the nursery. Cover a new plant with light shade cloth its first summer, then remove it.
Below about 25°F, frost can scar the stem tips. Cover the tips with foam cups or frost cloth that reaches the ground, not plastic. Take covers off in the morning.
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.
How is totem pole minor different from major?
Minor has thinner columns and a wavier look, while major has thicker columns with bolder knobs. You care for both the same way.
Does it have spines?
No. Totem pole cactus has no spines, thorns or glochids, just smooth knobs. It is safe to place near walkways and pools.
How big does it get?
It grows slowly into an upright clump, eventually about 8 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Leave it that much room for the long run.
Does it need full sun?
Yes. It wants full sun and handles reflected heat off hot walls, so give it the sunniest spot you have.
How often should I water it?
Water no more than once a month while it roots in. After that it needs water only during extreme drought.
Is it frost hardy?
It is not very frost hardy, and damage starts below about 25°F. Cap the tips with foam cups or paper bags on frost nights.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. Use a large pot with good drainage and a cactus mix.
Does it flower or set seed?
Flowers are small and not showy, and it does not set seed. New plants come from cuttings.
How do I root a cutting?
Let the cut end dry for about a week to form a callus, then plant it in dry, fast-draining cactus mix.
Is totem pole minor messy?
No. It drops almost no litter, so it works well near pools, patios and walkways.
Totem Pole Minor for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Totem Pole Minor is the thin-stemmed form of the spineless totem pole cactus. It has wavier, slimmer columns than the major form and the same easy care. Here is what Valley homeowners ask about it.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Totem pole minor vs major
Minor has thinner, wavier columns. Major has thicker columns and bolder knobs, and both forms are spineless.
Spineless cactus for pool decks
Totem pole cactus has no spines, so it is used around pools and ponds. It takes full sun and reflected heat.
Totem pole minor in pots
Its slim columns suit a large pot or raised bed. Use a fast-draining cactus mix.
Watering totem pole cactus in the Valley
Water no more than monthly while it roots in, then only in extreme drought. Keep the soil from staying soggy, because wet soil rots the roots.
Frost care for totem pole cactus
Tips are damaged below about 25°F. Cap them with foam cups or paper bags on cold nights.
How big totem pole minor gets
It grows slowly into an upright clump about 8 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide.
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.