Its ready to be cut in any shape or size you want. Cholla Wood is one of the easiest vivarium woods to sink due to its natural porosity. Ginge. As a soft wood, Cholla Wood is relatively easy to cut. Next, prepare a small pot with some sandy, well-draining soil mix. If the wood does not sink quickly, you may need to add a little more water. Exercise caution when handling this plant, and be sure to keep it in a safe location if you have pets or small children at home. The common name comes from the use of its dried stems as walking sticks. Cholla wood is a natural material that is both safe and natural to use in goldfish tanks. When added to an aquarium, cholla wood acts as a natural pH regulator. It is a type of cactus native to the southwestern United States which has been dried and bleached. Preserving a saguaro cactus skeleton is a great way to enjoy the beauty of this iconic desert plant long after the living cactus has died. If you are growing a cholla cactus indoors, choose a cactus or succulent soil mix, or amend standard potting soil with plenty of sand to increase drainage. The unique appearance of this wood is exceptional and will provide a place for inhabitants to hide, breed, and eat. Is it recommended to bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes? These spines can puncture into woody material, such as wood and bark, and stay intact until they dry up and fall off. This is a cholla cactus skeleton, which naturally has the hole pattern you see here. You can use it as a decorative piece to hang on your wall, prop it up in a corner, or even use it as a centerpiece in a room. Alternatively, Air plants are a popular choice that can be used to great effect in arid and tropical terrariums alike. For this week's video, I show you how to make a very unique pen blank. Preserving a saguaro cactus skeleton is a straightforward process that will help keep the unique beauty of the skeleton intact for years to come. Theres nothing quite like Cholla Wood in the hardscape family. Cholla Wood is considered a softwood due to the fact that it remains evergreen during its lifetime. Although it has bright purple and green spines, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between cacti with these characteristics and those with dark spines.