Echinocactus is a genus of perennial plants with a spherical stem. It belongs to the Cactus family and is distributed in the Mexican desert and the southwestern regions of the United States. You can translate the name of the plant as "hedgehog cactus." This is due to its shape resembling a curled hedgehog. This slowly growing succulent with beautiful thorns can be found today in many homes around the world. In the natural environment, it reaches gigantic proportions, but indoors it remains compact for a long time and pleases with colored spines.
Plant description
Echinocactus is a perennial rhizome. Under the ground there are long winding roots of white color. They gradually braid the entire earthen lump. For this reason, the pot needs a roomy and deep plant. Young plants resemble small flattened balls covered with long, stiff needles. The diameter of an adult indoor echinocactus rarely exceeds 40 cm. The stem has a glossy dark green surface. As it grows, the shape of the plant changes slightly, it stretches slightly.
There are 25-45 vertical ribs along the entire length of the stem. The ribs are pointed and clearly visible on the surface. They are densely covered with areoles with bunches of thorns. In each areola, there are 1-4 central straight spines and up to a dozen curved radial spines. The length of the radial spines can reach 3 cm, and the central ones grow up to 5 cm. All areoles have a whitish or yellowish pubescence, which gradually erases. The top of the plant is densely covered with a soft cap of long pile.
Echinocactus bloom in the twentieth year of life. Flowering occurs in May-June. At the top, a long bud appears, from which a yellow funnel-shaped flower with thin, glossy petals blooms. The corolla is 7 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. The outer side of the tube has felt pubescence. The edges of the petals are painted in darker, almost brown tones.
Types of Echinocactus
In the genus of echinocactus, there are 6 species. The most popular among gardeners is echinocactus gruzoni. This spherical cactus reaches a diameter of 40 cm. Its ribs are covered with thick, slightly curved spines. Needles, and later flowers, are painted in a light yellow color. Young cacti have a slightly flattened shape, and old specimens are elongated and more like a barrel. At home, this species is called the "golden barrel". Many flower growers are looking for echinocactus Gruzoni red, but such plants are not found in nature. Often, unscrupulous sellers stain ordinary yellow spines with red dye. It is harmless, but young needles will grow the usual yellow color.
Echinocactus is flat-throated. An adult plant is capable of reaching 2 m in height and 1.5 m in diameter. On the surface of the stem is located up to 25 high ribs. In closely located areoles are gray spines with transverse strokes. Their length is 3.5-4.5 cm. The variety blooms regularly in room conditions with bright yellow tubular flowers.
Echinocactus Parry. A spherical stalk up to 30 cm high is covered with gray-blue skin. On relief, wavy ribs areoles with long (up to 10 cm), curved spines. Young plants are covered with brown-pink hooked needles, but with age they brighten and become almost white.
How is a cactus propagated?
Echinocactus reproduce by children and seeds. Unfortunately, children appear extremely rarely. A process should be separated 6-12 months old. It is dried for 2-3 days in air, and then rooted in wet sand or a mixture of sand and peat. It is not necessary to dig a seedling. It is enough to press it into the ground and support it with toothpicks. The process takes 1-2 months. After this, you can transplant rooted echinocactus to a permanent place.
Seeds are characterized by good germination. It is better to sow them at the end of February. You can do this at other times of the year, but you will have to additionally highlight seedlings. For planting, containers with loose sheet soil and sand are used. The soil should be calcined before planting. Seeds are distributed on the surface, sprayed with water and covered with a film or glass. The greenhouse is left in a bright place at a temperature of + 26 ... + 30 ° C. Shoots appear after 1-2 weeks. They continue to grow under shelter for a month and only then gradually accustom to its absence.
Care Secrets
Like most representatives of the Cactus family, echinocactus does not require constant attention. For decades, it has been gradually increasing in size and is often inherited. To maintain attractiveness, it is important to create favorable conditions for the plant. It loves intense lighting and long daylight hours. Direct sunlight will not harm the dense skin. Gradually, the stem bends and deforms from the side of the light source, so it is useful to periodically turn the pot.
Echinocactus needs to maintain temperature. In summer, it normally tolerates even intense heat, and in winter it is better to keep it at + 10 ... + 12 ° C. Cooling below + 8 ° C is fatal to the plant. From mid-spring it is recommended to send the pot to the balcony or porch. Daily fluctuations within 7-8 ° C will benefit echinocactus.
The cactus does not show requirements for increased humidity. It can sometimes be sprayed with water or bathed from dust under a warm shower. In this case, water should not fall on the flowers.
Echinocactus should be watered abundantly, but rarely. Water for irrigation should be warm and well purified. Between irrigation, the substrate should dry well. In winter, watering is minimized, moistening the soil no more than once a month.
From April to October, echinocactus can be fed. Use special compositions for succulents, which are introduced into the soil in a diluted form. It is enough to add 1-2 servings of fertilizer per month.
The transplant is carried out every 2-5 years. The older the plant, the less often it needs it. A pot is needed quite stable, since a massive stem weighs a lot. The capacity should be slightly larger than the previous one. If you immediately choose a large container, the roots can rot due to excess moisture.
The soil for echinocactus should include the following components:
- turf land;
- sheet earth;
- river sand;
- crushed pumice;
- chopped charcoal.
The bottom of the tank is covered with a thick layer of expanded clay or other drainage material. When transplanting, you need to try to remove part of the old substrate from the roots. This will eliminate excessive soil acidification.
Unfortunately for some gardeners, echinocactus practically does not form children. Sometimes they appear after damage to the stem. It is possible to provoke the appearance of processes, causing several scratches on the top of the plant. However, caution should be exercised: a damaged echinocactus is even more sensitive to rot. If the plant already has children, it is not necessary to separate them. Thick curtain looks much more impressive.
Possible difficulties
With the wrong watering regime, echinocactus can suffer from fungal diseases. They affect the roots and stems of the plant. It is important to prevent waterlogging of the soil and dampness in the room, especially at low air temperatures.
Sometimes echinocactus is attacked by mealybugs and scale insects. Parasites should be removed from the ground using a stiff brush. After that, the plant is bathed under a plentiful warm shower, and then treated with insecticides.
