Echinocactus

Family. Cactaceae.

Origin. South America, Mexico. 

Description. A small genus consisting of 6 species of cacti with a rounded cross-section and a slightly flattened top. Echinocactus can become large plants, reaching 30-90 cm in diameter, without losing their spherical shape.

In their natural habitat they grow singly, lateral shoots appear only when unfavourable conditions occur or if the main plant has received any damage.

The stems are dark green and have numerous, vertical, deep ribs. Each adult cactus can boast 35 - 45 ribs.

The spines are light, often golden, short and straight. In adult specimens, the spines can reach 5 cm in length.

Echinocactus can bloom for the first time at the age of 20-30 years. Flowers are small, funnel-shaped, appear at the top of the stem and form a wreath. Buds can reach 5-7 cm in diameter.

The petals are brightly colored - yellow, orange, pink and red. The flowers remain open only in sunny weather.

It is interesting that young cacti have only small tubercles and only after 3-4 years they are replaced by ribs, which become deeper and deeper with age.

Height. Very variable, depending on the species, grows slowly. In nature, there are cacti with a diameter of 1 m and a height of about 1.5 m, and sometimes up to 3 m. Over time, the plants can reach quite impressive sizes even at home.

Caring at home

Flowering time 

Spring - summer, reluctant to bloom indoors, only with proper care. The age of flowering is at least 20 years - buds will decorate only adult plants with a diameter of more than 40 cm. 

How to care 

A fairly unpretentious species that does not require much time and effort, but it should be gradually accustomed to changes in temperature and lighting.

Echinocactus will appreciate being kept outdoors during the warm season. Periodically take the cacti outside during the day for 2 weeks, gradually increasing the time spent there. Protect the flower from direct sunlight and heavy rainfall.

How to transplant

Adult specimens need to be replanted every 2-3 years, young seedlings can be replanted annually. Echinocactus does not like frequent replanting - its root system takes a long time to recover from damage.

For planting, use pots with large drainage holes, the root system prefers slightly cramped conditions.

Do not replant cacti that have formed buds - wait until flowering is over. When replanting, pots are gradually increased - by 2 - 3 cm in diameter. Also, the diameter of the correct pot should be 2 - 3 cm larger than the diameter of the stem.

This species grows well in shallow and wide plastic or clay pots. In addition, glazed clay pots have an impressive weight and protect large plants from tipping over.

Using too large a pot to grow a cactus can lead to root rot, since the entire volume of soil will retain moisture after watering.

1. Fill the bottom of the pot with broken shards, gravel for good drainage. The height of the drainage layer can reach 1/3 of the height of the pot. 
2. A small layer of soil is poured onto the drainage layer.
3. The plants are removed from the old pot and the roots are lightly shaken off any remaining substrate.
4. For 2 days, the cacti are left in the fresh air so that the roots have time to dry out and any wounds can heal.
5. Next, it is planted in new soil - placed in a pot at the same depth at which the flower was in the previous container.
6. The root system is straightened and placed vertically, making sure that the roots do not break or bend upwards. It should be moved carefully - the sharp spines of the echinocactus can easily injure your hands.
7. The plants are covered with fresh substrate, lightly tapping the pot to settle the soil.
8. After transplantation, the surface of the substrate can be sprinkled with a small layer of fine expanded clay or river sand - such a cover will quickly remove moisture from the root collar of the plants. 

After transplantation, place in a place shaded from sunlight for 7-10 days. The first watering is carried out 4-5 days after transplantation - during this entire period, the plants will have enough moisture that is already in the soil.

Fertilizing is postponed for 2-3 months, giving the damaged root system a chance to get used to the new conditions and heal the wounds that may have arisen as a result of transplantation.

Echinocactus just bought in a flower shop should not be immediately transplanted into a new substrate - give them time to adapt to the new conditions and wait until the end of flowering.

Since large adult specimens have impressive dimensions, their transplantation becomes difficult - in the spring, the top layer of soil 5-7 cm thick is replaced with fresh soil mixture.

How to water 

Like most cacti, this species tolerates drought better than even short-term flooding or stagnant moisture in the substrate. The top layer of soil about 5 cm thick should dry out between waterings in spring and summer.

Excess water that has accumulated in the tray after watering is drained immediately.

In winter, try not to overdry the soil lump, and gradually increase watering as growth begins. In the winter months, only 2 - 3 waterings are enough for the entire dormant period. In winter, the stems can even wrinkle from lack of moisture.

For watering, use well-settled water at room temperature or slightly higher. It is also good to water the plants with filtered or softened bottled water.

Cacti respond positively to rain and melt water, but it should be collected outside the city.

Watering is carried out using a watering can with a long and narrow spout, making sure that water does not get on the stems.

Reproduction 

Echinocactus is propagated by seeds, which are sown on the soil surface, lightly pressing them with fingertips. Germination of fresh and properly prepared seeds is high. Germination is reduced for planting material that is more than 3 years old. Before planting, soak the seeds in warm water for 2-3 hours. You can add some growth hormones to the soaking water.

After soaking, the seeds are laid out on paper towels to dry. 

Some cactus growers recommend subjecting the seeds to preliminary cold stratification in the refrigerator for several months. 

Young seedlings develop slowly, and propagation by seeds will take a long time.

1. Sowing is carried out in the spring, the seeds are sprinkled on top with a thin layer of soil or river sand 1 - 2 mm thick.
2. Seedlings are kept in a well-lit place, shaded from direct sunlight, at a temperature of 21 - 27 ° C, in the spring.
3. The first cacti can be expected to appear within 2 to 6 weeks.
4. Sowing is carried out in transparent plastic containers with a lid, filled with mineral soil with a large amount of sand.
5. There should be a good drainage layer at the bottom of the container.
6. Cover the crops with a plastic cap or glass to maintain humidity and gradually increase the ventilation time by lifting the cap, keep in partial shade.
7. When sprouts appear, remove the cover and from time to time immerse the container with seedlings in a basin of warm water for irrigation. Cacti should not be sprayed - this often leads to rot and death of young plants. 
8. The first picking into separate cups is carried out as soon as the first needles appear.

Sometimes the babies are separated if they appear near the mother plant or lateral shoots are used as cuttings, but they appear very rarely.

Before planting, the cut site of the cutting must be dried for a couple of weeks.

1. Take small cups and make drainage holes in their bottom, and also lay out a drainage layer.
2. Fill the cups with cactus soil and sprinkle it with river sand. The sand layer can be up to 1 cm thick.
3. Rooting is carried out in a warm and well-lit place without access to direct sunlight.
4. The cutting is immersed in a sand layer to a depth of about 3 - 5 mm. - just lightly pressed against the soil surface. If the cutting is not stable, then for 7 - 10 days it is supported with small stones.
5. Cactus cuttings root successfully in materials such as perlite or vermiculite.
6. The cuttings are covered with transparent polyethylene film on top. The film is removed daily and the plants are aired, and condensation is removed from it.
7. Within 10-15 days, small roots will be visible at the base of the cuttings. 

Diseases and pests of echinocactus 

• The plant can lose its roots if the soil remains dry or too wet for too long. 
• Root rot appears with excessive watering, especially in the cold season.
• Rot may also occur due to insufficient drainage or constant watering with cold water.
• Rot occurs due to too much organic matter in the soil or when fertilizing with nitrogen or organic fertilizers. The cactus stem may simply burst.
• If there is not enough light, cacti may lose their spines, and young needles will be much thinner than old ones.
• If the room temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, development stops.
• Keeping the cactus too cool can cause large brown spots to appear on the surface of the cactus.
• Deepening the root collar when transplanting into the soil will lead to rotting of the stem and root system.
• The appearance of light green or yellowish streaks and spots on the stem may indicate a lack of nutrients in the substrate.
• Stems may become moldy if kept too cool and damp, with insufficient air movement.
• Fungal diseases include late blight and rhizoctonia. 

Among harmful insects, cacti can be attacked by scale insects, mealybugs and mites - cactus flatworm, root nematodes.

Soil

The soil should easily allow water and air to pass through, the pH should not be higher than 6.0 - the soil should be neutral or slightly acidic.

A mixture of leaf humus, turf soil, peat with a large amount of coarse river sand or perlite to improve drainage and small pieces of charcoal is suitable.

To improve drainage, you can also use perlite or vermiculite, which can make up to 30 percent of the total volume of the mixture.

To loosen the substrate, you can add a few small stones to it.

You can also use ready-made substrate for cacti and succulents to grow echinocactus.

Temperature

A heat-loving species that easily tolerates very strong heat with sufficient watering - delays in development are observed only if the room temperature exceeds 30 ° C.

In spring and summer,  the appropriate growing temperature will be between 18 and 25  ° C. During the winter, the echinocactus is dormant and should be moved to a cool place - about 8 - 10 ° C. 

Young specimens should not be exposed to temperatures below 8 °C. As they mature, cacti will be able to tolerate short-term cold spells - even light frosts down to -2–3 °C.

A cool, dry rest period will encourage flowering and also inhibit the growth of the cactus. It is worth remembering that in conditions of insufficient light, new growth may be weak and elongated.

If the flower is kept on a very cool windowsill, then it is worth placing a sheet of insulation under the flower pot - cacti do not like "cold feet".

Lighting

Provide maximum sunlight, avoiding direct sunlight on hot summer days. 

Echinocacus should take sun baths for 3-4 hours daily - in the morning or evening hours. The duration of daylight should be 10-12 hours per day.

In autumn and winter, when the day is significantly shorter, the sun's activity decreases and it often remains behind the clouds, artificial supplementary lighting with fluorescent lamps may even be required. The lack of natural light can also be compensated for with the help of special phytolamps.

The most suitable places for keeping the plant are the window sills of south-eastern or south-western windows. When growing on the southern side, protect from the sun during the daytime with a light tulle curtain or place the pot in the far part of the room.

Cacti do not like sudden changes in lighting conditions, and if changes are necessary, they get used to new conditions gradually - within 2-3 weeks.

Every month, the pot is turned a quarter of a turn around its axis so that the stem does not bend towards the light source.

Fertilization

After transplanting into fresh soil, the plant does not need to be fed at all during the first season. Feed only during the period of active growth with fertilizers for cacti and succulents with a high potassium content monthly, diluting the fertilizer to half the recommended dose.

Stop fertilizing in winter. Organic fertilizers and nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers are not suitable for growing - they will stimulate the appearance of rot.

Add a nutrient solution to moist soil after watering. Fertilizers getting on the root system in a dry substrate can cause chemical burns.

In general, cacti tolerate a lack of nutrients better than their excess.

Spraying 

Does not require spraying. On particularly hot summer days, you can place any container with water next to the cactus - this will be enough to increase the air humidity.

Echinocactus prefers well -ventilated areas with good air circulation.

Avoid exposure to cold drafts - ventilate the plant in another room during the winter months.

Purpose

A spectacular  and large cactus that even in adulthood retains an attractive rounded shape. Some varieties can stretch out and resemble a barrel only after several decades.

Nowadays, in flower shops you can find many plants with brightly colored thorns. The coloring is done with the help of special dyes and over time the bright colors fade. 

Note

Take precautions - the cactus has very sharp spines. When handling the plant, you can use protective thick gloves or grasp the cacti with a wire loop or thick towel when replanting.

Interestingly, some varieties are considered edible - they are eaten fresh or used in confectionery as candied fruits.

With good care, it will decorate the room for several dozen or even hundreds of years. In nature, there are plants that are several hundred years old and weigh up to several tons.

Varieties:

Echinocactus grusonii

Attractive cacti with spherical, dark green, sometimes slightly flattened stems. In the natural environment, the stems reach 180 cm in height, often without losing their rounded shape. The ribs are numerous, vertical, and bear many halos. With age, numerous lateral shoots may appear at the base of the plant. Areoles are located on the surface of the ribs - they bear straight, sharp, golden or white spines. At the top of the stems there is an attractive golden-yellow cephalium. During the flowering period, this cactus decorates itself with a flower crown consisting of small, funnel-shaped, yellow flowers. When grown indoors, the height of the plants often does not exceed 50 cm.

Echinocactus grusonii Rainbow

Spherical cacti with numerous vertical ribs on a glossy, dark green stem. In flower shops, these plants are often sold with bright, multi-colored spines. With age, the stems of these cacti take on a cylindrical shape. 

Echinocactus horizonthalonius

Very attractive solitary cacti with slightly elongated, light green, bluish-green stems up to 30 cm in height and about 15 - 20 cm in diameter. The ribs are vertical, widely spaced, shallow. The areoles are often woolly, bear very strong, thick, sometimes flat, light brown or gray spines. Flowers appear in the summer months at the tops of shoots, in a fluffy cephalium, have a funnel-shaped form from many silky, oblong petals of pink or white color. In diameter, the flowers reach 5 - 9 cm. 

Echinocactus Parryi

A spherical or slightly flattened cactus with a green stem and very deep, often wavy, vertical ribs. The areoles are sparse, woolly, and bear curved, very thick, pink or reddish needles. The flowers are yellow or orange, appearing in the summer months at the tops of the shoots, the petals of the flowers have a silky sheen. The cacti reach a height of 20 - 30 cm.