The San Pedro cactus has been the sacred hallucinogen of the shamans of South America for thousands of years. This succulent plant, when dried, contains up to 2.375% of mescaline, a substance responsible for powerful psychotropic effects. Here is a guide to learn more about this extraordinary cactus, from its effects to its history, up to its cultivation techniques!

San Pedro cactus how to recognize it

How to recognize a San Pedro cactus? It's simple, as its shape is very typical: it grows like a columnar cactus, reaching a maximum height of three to six metres; it has 4-8 sides or “ribs” which give it a particular shape; the colour ranges from light green to bluish green; the flowers They are large, white and fragrant, which is why they are also appreciated as an ornamental plant. The San Pedro thrives, like all cacti, in dry, arid and temperate climates.

San Pedro cactus effects

What does San Pedro contain? Its psychotropic active ingredient is the mescaline, a hallucinogenic substance responsible for effects ranging from euphoria to actual visions.

After taking San Pedro you may notice effects similar in part to those of the Peyote cactus: synesthesia, altered perception of time, hallucinations. Users also report other effects such as the resurfacing of forgotten memories, sensitivity to light and an altered perception of colors, a sense of enlightenment and reconnection with the universe.

It is because of these fascinating and complex effects that San Pedro is still used as a support for religiosity in the Andean territories.

The effects of mescaline begin to manifest themselves 1-2 hours after taking, peak within the next 2-4 hours and then decline over the next 8 hours.

San Pedro can have as side effect nausea and vomiting, although these effects seem to be less common than with Peyote. According to Andean shamans, vomiting is a sign of “inner cleansing” for those who are approaching the ritual. It must be said that these side effects do not occur to all consumers.

How to Grow San Pedro

Let's see now how to care for san pedro cactus and grow it at home.

This cactus tends to reach very large sizes as an adult, so it is preferable to grow it in a garden. In the first few years, however, due to its shallow roots, the San Pedro cactus trichocereus pachanoi can also grow well in a pot.

The cultivation of this species is simple and similar to that required for all cacti. The substrate must be that specific for succulents, with a slightly acidic pH and good drainage. The recommended substrate is a mixture of sand and porous inert materials such as gravel or vermiculite.

Watering should be scarce. The main danger for cacti is in fact excessive watering. Water should be given only when the soil is completely dry and in moderate doses.

In spring you can help the plant's growth with a specific fertilizer for cactus. San Pedro can be grown in both full sun and partial shade and it is best that the temperature does not drop never below 5 degrees, although this cactus tolerates temperature changes well.

How to multiply San Pedro? Like many succulents, this one also produces suckers, of the “children” that grow next to the mother plant and can be separated from it once they reach 10-15 centimeters in height. The separation of the sucker from the mother plant must be done with a sharp knife. Before repotting, the “wound” should be left to suppurate.

History of San Pedro

The San Pedro is native to the Andes mountain range in South America and has been used for nearly three millennia as a sacred plant. The first representation of the cactus as a sacred plant was found in a temple in northern Peru, in a temple erected by the Chavin culture, where a mythological creature supports a cactus used as a staff. The drawing has been dated to 1300 BC. Traces of cigars containing San Pedro have been found at the same site.

With the arrival of the Spanish colonizers the cultivation and use of the plant were forbidden, but this did not prevent shamans from secretly passing on the tradition which has been preserved to the present day.

From November 14, 2022, the traditional use of cactus is Cultural Heritage of the Nation in Peru.

Is San Pedro cactus legal in Italy?

In Italy, San Pedro is widely used as an ornamental plant. It is generally considered It is legal to own one of these cacti, because the extraction of the drug mescaline (illegal) is very complex and not very profitable. Furthermore, in an Italian habitat it is possible that the concentration of mescaline in San Pedro is lower than that present in its original habitat.

This makes it possible to own a San Pedro to grow at home or in the garden.