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Crested Blue Flame

5.0 out of 5 (2 experiences)

Survivor

Also known as

Crested Blue Candle, Dinosaur Back Plant, Crested Blue Myrtle, Myrtillocactus geometrizans forma cristata and Myrtillocactus Geometrizans Crestato

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Myrtillocactus geometrizans f. cristatus

Genus

Myrtillocactus

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Crested Blue Flame

💦 Water

How often to water your Crested Blue Flame

Crested Blue Flame needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Crested Blue Flame in your home

Crested Blue Flame love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Crested Blue Flame does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Crested Blue Flame in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Crested Blue Flame

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Crested Blue Flame: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Crested Blue Flame after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CrestedBlueFlame

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Crested Blue Flame thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Crested Blue Flame Water Frequency →

Crested Blue Flame Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Crested Blue Flame requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Crested Blue Flame Light Requirements →

Crested Blue Flame Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Crested Blue Flame is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Crested Blue Flame prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Crested Blue Flame Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Crested Blue Flame is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Crested Blue Flame →

When and How to Successfully Repot Crested Blue Flame →

💩 Fertilizer

Crested Blue Flame grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Crested Blue Flame →

🌎 Native Region

Crested Blue Flame is native to Central America.

🌸 Flowers

Crested Blue Flame produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

Crested Blue Flame Flowers →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Crested Blue Flame can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Crested Blue Flame Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Crested Blue Flame. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!