Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping

Your plants will ship within three days on the average. If for any reason it takes longer you will be notified. Your order may ship with USPS or UPS. Tracking info will be sent to your email.

Does La Mancha ship Internationally?

At this time we only ship to the continental US&A.

Where are you located?

We have two locations. One in northern California, the other in northern Europe.

Which methods of payments do you accept?

We accept cards. We do not accept crypto, unsolicited financial advice, or any currency named after a dog. We're not running a tech bro investment portfolio and we have zero interest in whatever coin you're currently evangelizing at dinner parties. Ideally you'd send stamps in an envelope like a civilized human being — but we've made an uneasy peace with the modern world and plastic will do. We're not motivated by money. We're motivated by rare plants, questionable decisions, and the occasional moment of genuine beauty. The checkout button is just a formality.

What is your refund policy?

If a plant is damaged during shipping we will certainly replace it. We only require a picture within 24 hours of receiving. For any other issues just send us a message. I am sure we can work it all out.

How do I contact customer support?

Send us an email @ Lamanchanursery@gmail.com

Why La Mancha?

Two things have always guided me — humor and wisdom. Don Quixote carries both like weapons. It's the story of a man who saw giants where others saw windmills — who chased beauty, meaning, and adventure with such conviction that the world called him crazy. We've been called worse. The name stuck because the spirit fit. We tilt at windmills too. We always have.

Why don't you post more on social media?

I post when there is something noteworthy and when I feel like it. - Not to satisfy the algorithms of the zuckerverse. I am doing this for fun, btw. - if you haven't noticed yet.

What kind of products do you use on your plants?

Over the years we've learned what these plants like and what makes them thrive. That knowledge didn't come from a manual — it came from time, attention, and a lot of trial and error. We use organic products and good old fashioned manual labor. No shortcuts. No synthetic nonsense. Just honest work and ingredients the plants actually recognize.

What is this black stuff on my cut?

It is pruning sealer. We use it to help heal the cut and protect it from infections. It will fall off eventually. Do not consume, just cut it off.

What can I use to protect myself from these prickly fellas?

You are not the first person with this problem. They make special gloves to protect your precious piano player hands. You can find them here:
Hexarmor
Or, for those on a limited budget you could just wrap/grab them with a piece of cardboard.

How fast will my cactus grow?

On the average Echinopsis (Trichocereus) plants if mature grow about 1 foot a year. If you are starting from seed you can expect about 1" in the first year, up to four inch in the second and up 8 inch in the third. Yes, it takes a while. Do not attempt this unless you have a good amount of patience. You can greatly speed up the process by grafting your seedling to Pereskiopsis or other grafting stock. For more on that please visit our blog.

There are orange spots, scarring and other weird discoloration and on my cut. What is that?

We only ship our best cuts but that does not mean that they are all flawless. However, all these minor blemishes do not matter at all. You should only be concerned if your cactus starts to rot, gets mushy and soft. In this case you should cut it back till you no longer see any discoloration. You can find more on that in our blog.

I am with an organization that holds ceremonies. Can you help?

So glad you asked. It depends. Why don't you send me a message?

Wachuma, Huachuma, Achuma, Peruvian Torch. What is it?

Many names. One remarkable plant. In the western world it's most commonly known as San Pedro — scientifically classified as Echinopsis lageniformis or Trichocereus Pachanoi, Peruvianus, and Bridgesii depending on who you ask and what mood taxonomy is in that day. Native to the Andean Mountains but found across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina — this is a plant that has traveled as far and wide as the cultures that revere it. Light green to deep blue in color. Blooms at night. Grows up to 20 feet tall. And carries a history of traditional ceremonial and medicinal use stretching back thousands of years before anyone thought to give it a Latin name. Speaking of Latin names — the genus Trichocereus was coined by Vincenzo Riccobono in 1909 to describe a group of columnar cacti native to South America. In 1974 a botanist named Heimo Friedrich decided to fold the whole genus into the broader category of Echinopsis. The cactus community largely disagreed and still does. Trichocereus remains the name of choice for those of us who actually grow them — and probably always will. Call it what you want. It knows what it is.