Echinocereus

You don't have a lot of space to grow cacti but would you love to have some? Well of all the genres that exist, we recommend you bet on the Echinocereus. These live very well in pots, but they also produce beautiful flowers: good size and very bright colors.

But if we also tell you that they are not difficult to maintain, you may not believe us. For this reason, we are going to explain the characteristics of this type of cactus, and we will tell you about their basic needs so that you are the one who puts the advice we offer to the test.

Origin and characteristics of the Echinocereus

This time we have some protagonists that grow mainly in Mexico, although there are some species that are found in the southeastern United States. The genus, Echinocereus, is made up of approximately 50 species, and practically all of them produce large flowers and edible fruits.

Its stems are usually columnar, although sometimes they are rather creeping. These are more or less cylindrical in shape, and are generally covered with sharp spines that point outward; Except for exceptions in which they grow attached to the stem.

Height varies, but they are small cacti, which rarely exceed 40 centimeters in height, so they are interesting to grow in pots.

Main species

Of the fifty that have been described, there are very few that we can find for sale:

Echinocereus coccineus

It is a cactus endemic to Mexico and the United States (Texas and Arizona). Its stems reach 40 centimeters in height, by up to 5 centimeters thick. It tends to form clumps up to 1 meter in diameter, and produces orange flowers 3-8 centimeters in diameter.

Echinocereus knippelianus

It is a cactus known as green peyote, and it is endemic to Mexico. It usually grows developing a solitary stem up to 8 centimeters in diameter by 10-15 centimeters in height.. Since it only has 5-7 ribs, it can be handled safely. The flowers are 4 to 6 centimeters wide, and are pink, purple, or white.

Echinocereus pectinatus

It is one of the most common. It grows wild in Mexico, and in the United States (specifically in Texas and Arizona). It reaches an approximate height of 8 to 35 centimeters, for about 3-13 centimeters in diameter. The flowers are dark pink in color, and measure between 5 and 15 centimeters in diameter.

Echinocereus reichenbachii

It is an endemic cactus from Mexico, with stems up to 40 centimeters tall by 10 centimeters in diameter. The flowers are of good size, with a diameter of 12 centimeters, and of magenta or pink color.

Echinocereus rigidissimus

This species is one of the most commercialized. it is also endemic to Mexico, and the United States. Reaches a height of about 30 centimeters tall by about 4 centimeters thick. It has thorns that cover it completely, but they grow sideways, attached to the stem. It produces pink or magenta flowers with a size between 6 and 9 centimeters in diameter.

Echinocereus subinermis

It is known by the name of hairless alicoche, and is endemic to Mexico. It can produce a single stem or several, forming groups. Each of them measures 30-33 centimeters in height, by about 4-15 centimeters in width. Its flowers are up to 13 centimeters wide and yellow.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

This is a cactus native to the southwestern United States reaching the border of Mexico. It grows in groups composed of numerous stems between 4 to 45 centimeters high and 5 to 15 centimeters in diameter.. It produces red flowers, 3 to 7 centimeters in diameter.

Echinocereus viridiflorus

It is a type of Echinocereus endemic mainly to Mexico, but it also grows in the United States (Oklahoma, Texas, Wyomig and Dakota). Develops stems up to 13 centimeters tall by 5 centimeters thick. Its flowers are yellow, with a diameter of up to 7 centimeters.

What are the care they need?

We have seen the most popular species; now it's time to know how they take care of themselves. Although they are a little different from each other, they all need the same attention, which are:

Location

They are sun-loving plants. For this reason, should be placed in sunny areas, outdoors. Inside the house they are one of the cacti that have the worst time, precisely as a consequence of the lack of light.

Of course, be very careful about exposing them to the star king without first accustoming them, since the next day they would wake up with burns.

Soil or substrate

If you are going to have it in a pot, you can use quality cactus soil (as No products found.), or make the following mixture yourself: peat with perlite in equal parts. Remember also that the container where you plant it must have holes in its base, since otherwise it will end up rotting due to direct contact with water.

On the other hand, if it is to be kept in the garden, it is important that the soil is loose, light, and that the water drains well. In compact and / or heavy soils, not only will it not be able to grow in conditions but, in fact, it may not live long.

Irrigation

Irrigation has to be very, very low. You only have to water when the soil, or the substrate if it is grown in a pot, is dry. Always keep in mind that it withstands drought much better, and that an excess of water can be fatal.

But when you water, add water until all the soil is moistened, otherwise the roots that are lower down will not rehydrate.

Subscriber

It is highly recommended to fertilize the Echinocereus with a fertilizer for cacti (for sale No products found.) every year, from spring to summer. Follow the directions on the package so that unforeseen events do not arise.

Multiplication

They multiply both by seeds in spring-summer and by stem cuttings in spring. Let's see how:

• Seeds: you have to sow them in soil for seedlings (for sale No products found.) previously watered, trying not to pile them up. Then cover them with very little soil, and place the seedbed outside in full sun. If they are fresh and the substrate is kept moist, they will germinate in one or two weeks.
• Stem cuttings: It is very simple. You just have to cut with a smooth knife (without a saw) previously disinfected a stem about 10 centimeters high, wait a week for the wound to heal, and finally plant it in a pot with a pumice for example. Put it in semi-shade, and see watering it from time to time. Thus, in about 15 days it will take root.

Plagues and diseases

Echinocereus are quite hardy. Even so, you should know that mealybugs, aphids and snails can attack them. The first two are easily removed with a little soap and water, or diatomaceous earth; for the latter it will be better to use molluscicides, or repellants which are highly recommended if there are pets and / or children.

Regarding diseases, if the environmental humidity is high or if they are watered excessively, fungi such as roya or the phytophthora can cause them a lot of damage. Therefore, if they have gray, white or orange spots, and / or if they start to have soft stems, they must be treated with systemic fungicides (on sale No products found.). In addition, irrigation must be suspended for about a week, and the land renewed.

Rusticity

It will depend a lot on the species, but They can be grown outdoors throughout the year if there are no frosts, or if they are weak and punctual up to -3ºC.

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