Encephalocarpus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin: Mexico.

Description. Encephalocarpus are extremely attractive small cacti with spherical or slightly flattened green stems. In the wild they often grow singly, sometimes with adult specimens producing lateral shoots at the base of the stems. The ribs are numerous, low and spirally arranged. The tubercles are numerous, pointed and bear areoles with short, light-coloured spines at the tops. The areoles, located at the bottom of the plant, have no spines. The top of the stem is covered with a fluffy white cephalium. The flowers are pink, funnel-shaped, up to 3 cm in diameter, opening during the day.

Height: Does not exceed 20 cm, grows slowly.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

It tolerates a very wide range of temperatures, and can tolerate light frosts if kept in dry soil. In spring and summer it will appreciate hot weather. In winter months, cool conditions at temperatures around 8 - 10° C are preferable. 

Lighting

Like most cacti, it requires bright light with some shade on particularly hot days.

Care

It is a fairly hardy species that can withstand frost and drought, but does not tolerate excessive watering and stagnant water.

Substrate

Can be grown in ready-made mixtures for cacti based on mineral components. The soil should have excellent drainage, making up to half of the substrate volume. The root collar can be surrounded by a layer of fine gravel or coarse sand.

Feeding

Monthly during the growing season with fertilizers for cacti and succulents with a high potassium content and low nitrogen content. Fertilizers are diluted to half the recommended concentration.

Flowering time

Spring Summer.

Air humidity

Do not spray, in autumn and winter the air in the room should be dry. Ensure very good air circulation around the encephalocarpus.

Soil moisture

Water moderately, keeping the soil almost completely dry in winter. Allow the soil to dry out halfway between waterings in spring and summer. Avoid watering in rainy weather.

Transplantation

Adult specimens can remain in the same soil for several years. They are replanted when it is necessary to change the size of the pot or soil, in the spring.

Reproduction

Propagated by sowing seeds in spring or by stem cuttings, with the cut site being dried for several days. Rooting of cuttings, which are rarely formed in cacti, often ends in failure. To maintain humidity, seedlings are covered with glass, and watering in the first months is replaced by spraying. Germination occurs within 1-2 months. By grafting onto rootstocks that are more resistant to rotting.

Pests and diseases

Mature plants rot very easily with the slightest over-watering.

Red spider mites, mealybugs, thrips and aphids sometimes appear.