Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) may well be the slowest, most patience-testing cactus you can grow. After a year, a seedling is sometimes no bigger than a pea. Yet it's a rewarding plant: it stays small, has no spines and eventually flowers with soft pink blooms from its woolly crown. In this guide you'll learn how to grow peyote from seed, how to get seedlings through their first year and how to keep a mature plant healthy.
Want to know more about the history and role of this cactus first? Read everything about peyote and mescaline.
What is peyote?
Peyote is a small, spineless cactus from the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico and southern Texas. It grows there in the shade of shrubs, often half sunk into the ground. A mature plant reaches at most about 6 cm (2.5 in) tall and roughly 12 cm (5 in) wide. Below ground sits a thick taproot that can go more than 25 cm (10 in) deep.
In the wild, peyote grows extremely slowly. It can take decades before a plant flowers. In cultivation it's faster, but even then it usually takes 6 to 10 years from seed to a flowering plant.
How to recognise peyote
- A blue-green to grey-green, rounded head with no spines.
- Usually 7 to 13 broad, rounded ribs. Young plants often have only 5.
- Small tufts of white or grey wool on the areoles, especially in the centre of the crown.
- Pink, sometimes white flowers emerging from the centre, followed by pink, club-shaped fruits full of tiny black seeds.
| Species | Features | Difference from peyote |
|---|---|---|
| Lophophora williamsii (peyote) | Blue-green, distinct ribs, tufts of wool | The species in this guide |
| Lophophora diffusa | More yellow-green, vaguer ribs, often grows solitary | Same genus, often flowers white to yellowish |
| Lophophora fricii | Flatter and greyer, pink to red flowers | Often larger, more colourful flowers |
| Astrophytum asterias | Flat head with white dots, 8 ribs | Often confused with peyote, but a completely different, protected species |
Seed or plant: where to start?
| Starting point | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peyote seeds | Cheap, you see the plant grow from the very start | Takes a lot of patience, seedlings are fragile | Growers who enjoy a project |
| Young peyote cactus 2 to 3 cm | A sturdy plant straight away, less risk | More expensive per plant | Anyone who wants a nice plant quickly |
You'll find both in the Lophophora category. If you start from seed, always sow more seeds than the number of plants you want. Not every seed germinates, and not every seedling makes it through the first year.
Sowing peyote in 6 steps
- Pick the right time. Spring and early summer are ideal, when the days are long. Indoors under a grow light, other months work too.
- Prepare the substrate. Use a fine, mineral mix, for example fine pumice or sand with a small share of cactus soil. Moisten it well. To prevent mould, briefly heat the mix in the oven or microwave first and let it cool.
- Scatter the seeds on top. Peyote seed is very small and needs light to germinate. Press the seeds lightly into the surface and cover them barely, if at all.
- Keep it moist and warm. Put the tray in a sealed bag or mini greenhouse with a few small air holes. A temperature of about 22 to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F) works best.
- Give plenty of light, not harsh sun. A bright windowsill without direct midday sun, or a grow light at a distance, is enough. Harsh sun cooks seedlings under plastic.
- Be patient. The first sprouts usually appear within one to three weeks. They're tiny green balls without ribs yet.
Getting seedlings through their first year
The first year is the most delicate. The plants are tiny and dry out quickly, but they also rot fast if they stay too wet.
- Keep the cover on for the first few weeks and air it briefly every day.
- After about two months, remove the cover step by step so the seedlings adjust to drier air.
- Keep the substrate lightly moist, never soaking wet. Use a mister or water from below.
- Green algae are harmless. White, fluffy mould isn't: increase ventilation and remove affected seedlings.
- Only prick out the seedlings once they're pea-sized, usually after a year. Be gentle, the roots are fragile.
Caring for a mature peyote
| Factor | Growing season (April to September) | Winter rest (October to March) |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Lots of light, a sunny windowsill or greenhouse. Acclimatise slowly to full sun | Bright and cool |
| Water | Water thoroughly, then let it dry out completely | Keep completely dry |
| Temperature | Warm, 25 to 35 °C (77 to 95 °F) during the day is fine | Cool, about 5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F), frost-free |
| Feeding | Twice a season with cactus fertiliser at half strength | No feeding |
Soil and pot
Peyote needs a very free-draining, mineral mix. A good ratio is about two thirds mineral material, such as pumice, lava rock or coarse sand, and one third cactus soil. Choose a deep pot with a drainage hole so the taproot has room. Only repot in spring, and only when the plant has truly outgrown its pot.
Reading your plant
- Slightly wrinkled and sunken: normal between waterings and during the winter rest.
- Red or bronze: it's getting too much harsh sun. Give it a little more shade.
- Tall and pale: too little light, or too much water and fertiliser.
- Soft, brown or cracked: too much water. Let it dry out fully and check the root for rot.
Grafting: faster growth
If you want faster results, you can graft young peyotes onto a fast-growing rootstock such as Pereskiopsis or Trichocereus. A grafted seedling can grow as much in a few months as it otherwise would in a few years. Grafting does take some practice and a sharp, clean blade. For most beginners, plain patience is the easiest route. For more on growing mescaline cacti in general, read how to grow mescaline cacti.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering: the most common cause of death. The taproot rots quickly in wet soil.
- Watering in winter: cold and wet together is almost always fatal.
- Sowing too deep: peyote seed needs light to germinate.
- Removing the cover too soon: young seedlings dry out within days.
- Too much fertiliser: causes cracks and an unnaturally swollen plant.
- Moving into full sun too fast: always acclimatise a plant that has been indoors.
Protecting wild peyote
Peyote is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Overharvesting and land clearing are wiping it out in more and more places in Mexico and Texas, and collecting it from the wild is illegal in Mexico. So always buy cultivated plants or seeds, never wild-collected plants. Growing your own from seed is exactly how enthusiasts take pressure off wild populations.
Is it legal to grow peyote?
That varies a lot by country. Mescaline itself is banned almost everywhere in Europe, but different rules apply to the living cactus:
- Netherlands: you may own and grow the cactus as an ornamental plant.
- Germany and the United Kingdom: allowed as an ornamental, as long as it isn't intended for consumption.
- France, Italy and Switzerland: the plant is prohibited.
- United States: peyote, including its seeds, is federally Schedule I, with an exemption for the Native American Church.
Always check the rules where you live before ordering seeds or plants. That responsibility is yours.
Safety
Peyote contains mescaline and other alkaloids. Avalon sells the seeds and plants as ornamentals and for growing, not for consumption, and doesn't give usage advice. Keep the plant out of reach of children and pets. All our products are for adults aged 18 and over only.
Frequently asked questions
How long does peyote seed take to germinate?
At 22 to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F), with enough light and high humidity, the first sprouts usually appear within one to three weeks.
How fast does peyote grow?
Very slowly. After a year a seedling is often only the size of a pea or a marble. From seed to flowering plant usually takes 6 to 10 years in cultivation; grafted plants are faster.
How often should I water peyote?
In summer, only once the soil is completely dry, roughly every one to two weeks in warm weather. From October to March, don't water at all.
Can peyote go outside?
In summer it can sit outside in a warm, sheltered spot, as long as you let it get used to the sun gradually. Bring it in before it turns wet and cold. It won't survive frost combined with rain.
Why has my peyote turned red?
That's usually a reaction to too much harsh sun. Give it a little more shade and it'll turn blue-green again.
Where can I buy peyote seeds or plants?
You'll find peyote seeds and young peyote cacti in Avalon's Lophophora category.
Sources: LLIFLE Encyclopedia of Cacti (Lophophora williamsii), IUCN Red List, United Plant Savers, Erowid Peyote Law Vault.
