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Description and features of all types of Echinocereus and their photos. Rules for growing Echinocereus Echinocereus home care

Distinctive features of the plant from other members of the family, recommendations for home cultivation, cactus breeding rules, control of possible pests and diseases, facts to note, species.

The content of the article:

Echinocereus (Echinocereus) belongs to the genus of cacti, for which the territories of North America, which includes the United States, as well as the central and northern regions of Mexico, including Baja California, are considered to be native lands. All varieties of these cacti have similar external characteristics. They are found on open prairies, and Echinocereus also prefer to settle on bare rocks from gypsum, limestone or granite outcrops, which are most often possible in mountains or hills. Only some of the cacti can be found in shading formed by shrubs or trees. If Echinocereus grow in the northern regions of their range, they can tolerate low temperatures without harm to themselves, but those varieties that prefer coastal areas suffer from a lack of heat.

These plants are not only included in the Cactaceae family, but are also classified as a tribe of Pachycereus (Pachycereeae). This cactus received its scientific name due to the fact that its fruits have thorns, which was not characteristic of cereus varieties, but many other characteristics correspond to the plant, therefore the name that the genus bears is translated as “hedgehog cereus”. The term combined the Greek words echinos" meaning "hedgehog" and "cereus", indicating the genus of cacti. In it, scientists have up to 70 varieties.

All representatives of Echinocereus have rounded outlines and small sizes in height. There are multiple shoots on the stems that appear over time. The shape of the stems themselves is cylindrical, they are soft to the touch. Some species of Echinocereus can grow lodging. The height of the plant varies between 15–60 cm. The surface of the stem is covered with a thin epidermis of a grayish-green color scheme. When the cacti reach adulthood, but begin to bush or branch, and at the same time large clumps (group undersized thickets of plants) are formed, in which there can be up to a hundred shoots.

If we take into account the ribs that can appear on the stem, then their number directly depends on the variety and can vary from five to 21 units. For the most part, the ribs are straight and low in outline, only some of the representatives are ribbed with a spiral shape or it is divided into tubercles. Areoles on the surface of the stem are relatively far apart.

When flowering Echinocereus, the color of the petals of the buds is characterized by a wide range of shades, which includes greenish, yellow, pink and lilac. The flowers themselves are large in size, their length is 2–6 cm with a diameter of about 4–9 cm when fully opened. The shape of the corolla is funnel-shaped. The buds are mainly located on the side of the stem. Inside, a bundle of stamen filaments with anthers and ovaries is clearly visible. However, not all types of cactus can boast such a beautiful flowering, there are varieties in which the flowers are rather small, not of interest to the greenish color scheme. Flowers in all species are distinguished by a hairy and bristle coating of the flower tube and ovary. When flowering, you can feel a strong citrus aroma.

And also the fruits of this cactus have a surface completely covered with hairs or thorns. The color of the berries takes on different shades - green, reddish or purple, their shape is spherical. Echinocereus fruits are 1–3.5 cm in diameter, the inside is fleshy and juicy. It is interesting that the fruits of this plant have the most pleasant taste of all members of the family, because of this feature in their native lands of growth, Echinocereus are called "strawberry cacti".

Due to its decorative qualities and colorful flowering, as well as ease of care, the plant is appreciated by cactus lovers.

Recommendations for growing Echinocereus, home care

Lighting. For a cactus, a place is selected on the southern windowsill, but the only exceptions are plants with very rare spines and a small number of them. They will have to arrange shading in the summer noon, and after winter gradually accustom them to the sun.
Echinocereus content temperature should be in the summer months in the range of 20-24 degrees. In summer, "air baths" are recommended, when the pot with the plant is taken out to the balcony or terrace, but the place must be protected from wind and precipitation. Or, daily airing of the room will be required, while the window must be opened at night in order to organize the average daily heat changes. With the advent of winter, the cactus begins a dormant period, when the thermometer should not go beyond 8–10 units. The minimum temperature drop is possible up to 5 degrees only if the soil in the pot is completely dry. This time continues until the formation of buds on the stem, which lasts until February-March, which will correspond to the natural increase in heat and the number of sunny days.
Air humidity when growing, Echinocereus is not a playing "factor", since the plant in nature "settles" in a rather arid area. But some flower growers prefer to carry out spraying with water from a very fine spray gun in the summer (such operations are possible only from April to early September). At the same time, it is important that drops do not fall on the trunk, and spraying is like a fog. This is due to the fact that many varieties of Echinrocereus grow in places where there is always morning dew. However, it should be noted that even such spraying can lead to corking of the stem, which will spoil its appearance, or worse, root or stem rot can be provoked.
Watering. When growing these cacti, it is recommended to moisten the soil in a pot moderately in the spring and summer, but with the advent of autumn, watering is reduced and in the winter months, with the onset of dormancy, Echinocereus is not moistened at all. At such a time, there is even a chance of wrinkling the shoots of the plant. As soon as the temperature is in the range of 14–15 degrees Celsius, and buds appear on the stems, they begin to gradually water the cactus or spray it in the form of a mist.
Fertilizers for Echinocereus are introduced during the period of activation of its growth, which falls on the period from mid-spring to the end of summer days. It is recommended to use formulations intended for succulents and cacti, but occasionally flower growers use products for orchids without changing the indicated dosage on the pack.
Transplantation and advice on soil selection. Young cactus should change the pot every year, but specimens that are over five years old are transplanted every 2 years. The new container may not be too deep, but its width is selected sufficient to accommodate the subsequently formed offspring from the "children". A good layer of drainage material is placed at the bottom of the pot. The substrate for Echinocereus is selected loose, but nutritious. You can use a purchased composition designed for cacti and succulents, adding crushed charcoal to it. Or a soil mixture of equal proportions of soddy soil (you can use the earth from molehills, carefully sifted from the sod), coarse-grained river sand, brick chips (it is sifted from dust) and fine gravel (the fraction should be approximately 2–3 mm in size). Crushed coal is also added there.

Echinocereus breeding rules

This unpretentious cactus can be propagated by sowing the collected seeds or rooting lateral processes (kids).

Using seed material, a large number of young Echinocereus are easily obtained, however, in this case, varietal properties may be lost. Seeds, before being sown in the soil, are subjected to stratification - usually, for about a month, it is recommended to keep them in cold conditions, with heat indicators of about 4–5 degrees. To do this, the seeds are wrapped in a paper bag and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. After the expiration of the specified period, fill the pot with wet sand and sow the seeds there. Then it is recommended to wrap the container with a plastic bag and put it in a warm place with a temperature of about 20–24 degrees.

Care of crops consists in carrying out regular ventilation and if the substrate begins to dry out, then it is sprayed with warm and soft water from a spray bottle. After about 14–20 days, you can see how the first sprouts will “peck”. The cover can then be removed by accustoming the young Echinocereus to room conditions. When they grow up, they are transplanted into separate small pots with a suitable substrate, or you can plant several pieces in a large common pot.

Often, small daughter processes begin to form in the lower part of the echtnocereus. It is recommended to separate them and leave them to dry for 2-3 days. Only when a whitish film is formed on the cut of the baby, it will be possible to plant the process in a pot of wet sand. Usually the cutting is pressed slightly into the substrate. Until the formation of root processes, the seedling is provided with support, or you can plant it next to the wall of the pot, on which it will rest. Watering seedlings is recommended to be carried out in a wick way so that moisture does not accumulate near the fragile base of the baby. Rooting takes place quite quickly and after 15–20 days the young cactus will develop with greater activity.

Control of possible pests and diseases of Echinocereus

The plant is loved by flower growers not only for its appearance, but also for its resistance to harmful insects and diseases. If the soil in the pot is constantly in a waterlogged state, then sooner or later this will lead to rotting of the root system, and to save the cactus, an urgent transplant will have to be carried out with the replacement of the pot. Too high humidity levels bring the same trouble. After the cactus is removed from the container, its affected roots are removed, and the plant is treated with a fungicide. Then planting is carried out in a sterile pot and substrate. Then it is important to properly maintain the irrigation regime.

Facts to note and photos of Echinocereus

In 1848, this genus received its name and was presented to the scientific botanical community. This was done by George Engelman (1809–1884), a botanist and mycologist with Germanic roots from America. Although earlier some of the varieties were already known, and one of the representatives of the genus was in the botanical nomenclature under the name Cereus pentalopus, which was described in 1828 by Augustin Decandol (1778–1841) - a French and Swiss scientist, known in botany as the first author-classifier of plants .

The popularity of these cacti was so great that it led to the publication of a specialized magazine in which one of the sections was devoted to this rather diverse group of plants and was called "Friend of Echinocereus". Julius Heinrich Karl Schumann (1810–1868), a German botanist and scientist engaged in research in the field of algology, also made an invaluable contribution to the systematization of Echinocereus species, the scientist published the result of his work in works dating from the end of the 19th century. But all the modern knowledge that is available in the taxonomy of Echinocereus is based on information gleaned from the monograph by Nigel Paul Taylor (1956), a British botanist, a specialist in the study of cacti, published in 1985.

Since the fruits of the cactus have excellent taste qualities, it is customary to prepare preserves and jams from them in their native lands of growth (the United States and Mexico). In these areas, special farmlands have even been built, where they cultivate those varieties of Echinocereus, the fruits of which are distinguished by large sizes. To prepare sweets, it is necessary to collect the fruits after the harvest has ripened and separate the juicy pulp of a bright red color from the skin, which is covered with thorns. Since the thorns are quite sharp, and this process is still not performed by mechanisms and all operations are carried out manually, the prices for cactus fruits are not low.

Types of Echinocereus

Echinocereus pectinatus (Echinocereus pectinatus) sometimes referred to as Echinocereus Pectinatus. The cactus is distinguished by a cylindrical stem, the top of which has a rounding. In length, it does not exceed 20 cm, with a width of about 3–6 cm. On the surface of the stem there are shallow ridges arranged vertically. There are 20-30 of them. The surface pattern is created by the radial spines, which are pressed very tightly against the stem. Funnel-shaped buds open up to 6-8 cm across and usually form at the top of the shoots. The color of the petals in the flowers is pinkish, but gradually their shade brightens towards the middle.
Reichenbach's Echinocereus (Echinocereus reichenbachii). The territory of natural distribution of this cactus stretches from the southwestern regions of the United States (which includes Colorado, Kansas, as well as New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) to the northeastern regions of Mexico. Often the plant can be found in the Chihuahua Desert, on the Texas plains, in the foothills of the rocks, where the absolute height is 1500 meters. The shape of the stem is cylindrical, at a young age it is single, but later the trunk becomes branched. Along the length, its parameters vary in the range of 8–25 cm with a width of about 2.5–9 cm. There are 10–19 ribs on the stem, they can grow both straight and with a slight curvature. In the areoles, the number of radial spines reaches 20–36, their usual arrangement is in the form of a bundle growing on both sides of the areola. These spines are distinguished by a slight bend and are very strongly pressed against the body of the stem. Central spines do not grow, but in some forms of this species there are 4–7 units (for example, in Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. Armatus). When flowering, a bud opens with petals of a bright pink color and a purple hue. The corolla in opening can reach 10 cm. The buds have a coating of hairs, bristles and spines.
Echinocereus thorny (Echinocereus subinermis) characterized by a rather small length of spines on a cylindrical stem. Its color is light greenish. On the surface, there are up to 11 ribs with a clearly visible relief. The location of the areoles is quite rare and from them three to eight spines of a silver color originate, which have a limb to the stem. They vary in length from 1 to 7 mm. Flowers usually grow on the top of the shoot. The color of the petals in them is bright yellow, the corolla in opening reaches a diameter of 12 cm.
Echinocereus hardest (Echinocereus rigidissimus). The stem has a columnar shape and reaches 30 cm in height, the width of the shoot is 10 cm. The stem has a dark green tint and there are 15–23 vertically formed ribs on its surface. Shortish curved spines are pressed tightly against the epidermis of the shoot, while creating a beautiful covering in the form of scallops. The color of the spines can be either yellowish-whitish or pinkish.

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Sergey Ivanyukhin 06/06/2014 | 479

It is believed that these cacti are capricious and poorly flowering plants in our latitudes. However, if you create suitable conditions for them to live, there will be no problems with them.

Bloom

Often, a rather nondescript-looking plant delights with the appearance of huge flowers up to 10-13 cm in diameter, which, moreover, delight with their magnificence for quite a long time (up to two weeks). But even in small-flowering species (1-6 cm in diameter), the shape of the flower and its saturation will not leave you indifferent. The color of the petals is all shades of white, yellow, green, brown, red, purple.

The pistil, mostly emerald green, also distinguishes this genus from thousands of other members of the Cactus family. The ability to bloom occurs in different species in different ways. And if E. pulchellus can bloom at 3-4 years of age, barely reaching the size of a small walnut, then flowering of some forms of E. pectinatus can be expected for more than 10 years.

Watering and planting

The content of Echinocereus must obey certain rules. The main ones are rare watering, preferably with rain or well-settled soft water and a well-permeable earth mixture (up to 30% sand), and so that the water does not leave quickly, add red brick chips with a fraction of 3-5 mm (about 20%) and the same gravel size (up to 20%). As an antiseptic, it is desirable to add crushed hardwood charcoal (about 5%). The remaining components of the mixture can be made up of peat chips (5%) and loamy or soddy soil, preferably from molehills (20%).

Lighting

The thicker your pet's spines, the more sunlight it needs. Only under such conditions will he be able to develop not only the correct shape of the stem, but also get enough nutrients to form buds. Therefore, densely spiky species must be kept on the windows of the south and southeast orientation. For low-thorned and thornless plants, any windows are suitable, except for the northern ones, and on the southern and southeastern ones they will even have to be shaded, especially at noon. I put such plants, as it were, in the shade of larger plants.

Fresh air and food

The next important factor in the successful cultivation of Echinocereus is fresh air. In the height of summer, when kept on the windowsill, they need to be periodically ventilated, avoiding drafts. A very good option is to place the collection outdoors in the summer, under a canopy of film or glass. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers in the first 2-3 years after transplantation, Echinocereus is not needed, since a properly prepared earth mixture contains everything necessary for the life of a cactus. Later, you can occasionally use in a weak dosage (half or less of the recommended rate) fertilizers for indoor flowers with trace elements that contain a minimum amount of nitrogen.

Echinocereus in winter

Wintering of Echinocereus should be absolutely dry and cold, preferably light, so as not to waste precious time at the beginning of the growing season on accustoming the plant to light. Spring sunshine can burn the cactus, so a little shading in the early days from active solar radiation is simply necessary, even with light wintering. Most Echinocereus are hardy, but temperatures of 8-12 ° C will be enough for them to overwinter well and prepare for future flowering.

spring awakening

The appearance of woolly buds is the first sign of the onset of vegetation. During this period, you can start a light foggy spraying, but only after the establishment of sufficiently stable sunny days. In the middle lane, this can be in March-April. However, if the plant is very "shrunk" during the winter, and the weather does not favor, then, without waiting for it to improve, it will be necessary to spray with slightly warm boiled water (without watering). This will prevent the buds from dropping. The procedure can be carried out at an air temperature of at least 10-12 ° C and make sure that drops of moisture do not accumulate on the surface of the stem.

Crested echinocereus from a large cactus family, grows in Mexico - alpine forests and between rocks. It owes its name to the comb-like arrangement of the lateral spines.

The plant does not grow too large, so it is often grown at home. Flower growers appreciate it for its interesting appearance and very beautiful flowers that do not fall off for a long time.

Small echinocereus are round, covered with thin yellow spines. Growing up, the trunk becomes cylindrical, ribbed, and dense spines acquire a gray tint. It blooms with large funnel-shaped flowers, pink or yellow, with a distinct citrus aroma.

With good care, the cactus looks very decorative and blooms regularly. But in order to achieve flowering, you need to try hard.

About how to grow echinocereus comb at home at home, how it looks - all this will be discussed today on the site "Popular about Health":

In the photo, echinocereus comb

After the purchase

Before you buy this little prickly miracle in a flower shop, carefully inspect it so as not to get a diseased or pest-infested plant. Pay attention to the hollows between its ridges - this is where small insects hide.

At home, keep it separate from other plants for a week, then put it on a bright, well-lit window sill. The most suitable south window.

It is better not to disturb him for a while, but if you need to transplant into a more suitable wide pot, use ready-made soil for cacti and succulents. Just add coarse-grained clean sand and gravel (a quarter of each). Do not forget to pour a layer of drainage on the bottom of the container.

Caring for Echinocereus comb

Temperature:

In summer, the optimum temperature for keeping Echinocereus is from 25 to 30C. With the onset of hot weather, it is useful to take the plant to the balcony. Only at first shade it from direct sun and be sure to protect it from rain.

In winter, a dormant period begins and it needs a cooler temperature - no higher than 12C. Therefore, put it in a less lit and cooler place.

Watering:

From spring to autumn, water regularly, not abundantly, only after the soil has completely dried. Use soft, not cold, settled, but rather filtered water. Don't flood the cactus! This can lead to root rot.

In winter, the plant is transferred to the "dry mode" and watering is completely stopped. This is especially true for those varieties that need cold winter maintenance.

Humidity:

At home, echinocereus comb, like other types of cacti, feels comfortable in a room with dry air. However, it can be periodically sprayed with a spray bottle to remove dust from the thorns and refresh the plant. Of course, you need to do this in the summer. In winter, let the plant rest.

top dressing:

In pet care from May to the end of July, once a month, include fertilizing with fertilizers intended for cacti. In winter, there is a dormant period when top dressing is stopped.

reproduction:

Reproduction of Echinocereus is carried out by seeds or, more conveniently, by lateral processes. The seed method allows you to get a lot of young plants in a short time, but varietal characteristics may be lost. Let's consider both methods:

Before sowing seeds, they must be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3
weeks, that is, subjected to cold stratification. After that, evenly distribute the seeds on moistened sandy soil, cover the container with glass or tighten with a film on top.

Place in a warm, bright place with diffused sunlight. Do not forget to regularly ventilate the plantings, moisten the soil with a spray bottle.

After about three weeks, the first shoots will appear. After that
cover can be removed. When the seedlings grow up, plant them in plastic cups, which are filled with soil intended for cacti. Be sure to provide good drainage.

If you decide to propagate the cactus by cuttings, carefully separate them from the main plant. Put on a napkin in a warm, bright place, leave for three days. Then place on moist sandy soil and press lightly. Immediately after cutting off the cuttings, sprinkle the cut on the cactus trunk with crushed charcoal.

When the seedlings give roots, plant them in separate pots, put them on a warm, bright window, but shade from direct sun. You can not water a month from the moment of planting.

In two weeks, young cacti will take root and begin to actively develop. Care for them is the same as for an adult cactus.

In conclusion, we note that the comb echinocereus, whose photo is located at the very beginning of this text, is especially popular with cactus lovers.

It differs from other varieties of the prickly family, as it looks very unusual and always blooms with good care. However, the main conditions for the appearance of flowers, as we already know, are bright sunlight, top dressing and a cool winter, without watering.

Echinocereus photo

Echinocereus home care

Echinocereus Echinocereus.

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This genus includes about a hundred species of cacti that are very different in appearance.

Echinocereus species

Within the genus Echinocereus, three can be distinguished. Plants of small size with a cylindrical stem and spines - scallops - spherical low-thorny cacti, and large, branched cacti with large spines.

Video: Chemical reference: Mescaline

How Echinocereus Blooms

Echinocereus comb Echinocereus pectinatus - spherical, and then a cylindrical stem with a large number of ribs covered with large yellow spines, which become gray with age. The flowers are large - up to twelve centimeters in diameter, pink or yellow. Echinocereus Salm Dick Echinocereus salm-dyckianus - with dark green cylindrical stems and yellowish spines. Echinocereus blooms large orange flowers.

Echinocereus care

Temperature: Moderate. In winter, a dormant period at a temperature of 10-12 ° C, a minimum of 8 ° C, with a dry content. Lighting: Bright lighting in winter and summer. Echinoceriuses love a lot of light and are very fond of direct sun.

Video: Gruson's Echinocactus (Echinocactus grusonii): Description of the species, my cacti

Watering: Moderate in spring and summer, decreasing in autumn, and very rare in winter when kept cold.

Fertilizer: From late spring to mid-summer, they are fed with special fertilizer for cacti.

Air humidity: Echinocereus resistant to dry air. But constant spraying with warm water from a very fine spray bottle is very helpful.

The soil- 1-2 parts of turf, 1 part of leaf, 1 part of peat land, 1 part of sand and brick chips. Young plants are transplanted annually or every other year, adult plants after two or three. Propagation: seeds and cuttings. flowering echinocerius in room conditions is possible only with strict observance of the conditions of detention, and most importantly, bright sunlight and cold wintering, without watering.

Echinocereus cactus photo

Although Echinocereus cacti are "medium-difficulty" cacti, without some attention and care, they do not have a beautiful decorative appeal. big cactus echinocerius with large roots, the soil is needed not only loose, but also heavier, therefore much more clay-soddy soil should be taken into the soil mixture for them than for medium-sized specimens. Echinocereus, like all other cacti, really needs regular fresh air.

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Therefore, for the summer period, they must be taken out into the garden or onto the balcony and kept there until autumn. Round-the-clock exposure to fresh air all summer, especially hardens and strengthens cacti, increases resistance to diseases and various pests.

Echinocereus (Echinocereus) is a genus of plants of the Cactaceae family, numbering about 60 species growing in North America, in its southern part.

A feature of all cacti of this genus is their short stature, up to 60 cm, strongly branching shoots and, most importantly, the presence of areoles with spines on flower buds and tubes, thanks to which these cacti received the prefix “Echinus” in their generic name, which translates from Greek for "hedgehog".

The flowers of these cacti, like most members of the family, are solitary, tubular, funnel-shaped, multi-petal. After flowering, small juicy fleshy fruits are tied, in many species they are not only edible, but also very tasty.

Otherwise, there are strong differences from species to species. Stems can be either spherical or cylindrical. The ribs are both straight and spiral, both barely noticeable and deep, clearly defined. Flowers are both small and large.

More than half of the species are successfully cultivated and loved by flower growers. And the most common ones are:

Echinocereus Reichenbach(Echinocereus reichenbachii) - a cactus with cylindrical branching shoots, reaching a length of about 25 cm and a width of 9 cm in adulthood. It has 10 - 19 straight or slightly curved ribs dotted with fluffy areoles with light straw spines that stand out in contrast against a dark green surface stem. There are 20 to 36 radial spines. They are slightly bent and pressed against the surface of the cactus, resembling scallops or spiders in appearance. The central spines may or may not be pronounced, depending on the variety of the cactus. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, bright pink-purple. Petals lanceolate form a 3 - 4-tiered corolla.

Popular subspecies of this plant:

– E. R. armatus(E. r. armatus) has about 20 straight low ribs. Central spines, 2-4 in number, about 3 cm long, straight, light brown at the base, dark brown at the ends.

– E. R. Bayle(E. r. baileyi) is distinguished by longer, up to 3 cm, and rare radial spines. In this variety, they are straight, sticking out in all directions. Central spines are absent. Flowers are about 12 cm in diameter.

– E. R. albispinus(E. r. albispinus) is one of the most attractive and popular variety among cactus growers. Areoles large, with white pubescence, radial spines-"spiders" of white color, no central spines. Pink flowers are relatively small, only 7 cm in diameter. The tips of the petals seem to be torn.

– E. R. Alberti(E. r. albertii) is one of the smallest varieties, only 5 to 15 cm tall. There are practically no central spines, or they are barely noticeable, no more than 3 mm long. Areoles are located almost close to each other. Radial spines are also small, only 3 - 6 mm long, like in the main species, they look like comb-shaped spiders. The flowers are purple, about 7 cm in diameter.

Echinocereus three-spined(Echinocereus triglochidiatus) at a young age has spherical stems, which later elongate and become cylindrical. There are relatively few ribs, 5 - 12. Like the previous species, it has many varieties that differ greatly from each other in the number and length of spines. But common to all plants of the species is a long flowering, the flowers last 2 - 3 days.

Popular subspecies of this plant.

– E t. mojave(E. t. mojavensis) has many flat, curved spikes up to 5 cm long, which is commensurate with the size of the cactus itself. Due to this, the stem of an adult plant is practically not visible through the "thickets" of thorns. The central spine is one. And it does not differ in length from the radial ones. The flowers are red-orange, about 8 cm in diameter. A feature of this variety is "family" - over time, the cactus grows and forms rather large clusters, uniting up to 100 specimens.

– E. t. mojave inermis(E. t. mojavensis inermis) - unlike the previous variety, this cactus has no spines at all or there are few of them and they are very short, up to 5 mm long. Flowers do not appear like all cacti, from the areola, but a little higher, which is why after flowering and falling of peduncles, clearly visible scars remain on the skin.

Echinocereus hardest(Echinocereus rigidissimus) has a straight cylindrical stem up to 30 cm long and 10 cm in diameter. Radial spines are located in the areoles of 15-23 pieces. and form rather large "combs" (or "spiders"), bending towards the body of the cactus. In shading, they are yellow-white, and in bright enough light, they become pink in color, due to which the whole cactus becomes multi-colored. There are no central spines. The flowers are bright pink, with a white core, about 10 cm in diameter. The petals are elongated-oval, form 2 - 3 tiers.

Variety ‘ rubrispinus’ the spines are almost completely red.

Echinocereus spiny(Echinocereus subinermis) has a short cylindrical stem up to 20 cm long. At a young age it is light green, in mature plants it acquires a purple hue. A feature of the species are strongly pronounced deeply cut ribs, of which there are from 5 to 11 pieces. Areoles rather small, bearing 3-8 short, grayish radial spines. Their length varies from 1 to 7 mm. The flowers are large, up to 12 cm in diameter, yellow. Petals lanceolate or oval, with a pointed tip, shape. They stay on the plant for almost a week.

Echinocereus care at home

The popularity of Echinocereus among flower growers is caused not least by their unpretentiousness. Even among other cacti, they are distinguished by undemanding content.

Lighting. Echinocereus all year round needs bright lighting, direct sunlight is desirable. Therefore, the best place to place it will be the windows of the south direction. In summer, the cactus feels good outdoors, on a balcony or in a garden.

Temperature. The optimal summer temperature range is 25 - 30 °C. In winter, these cacti should be provided with a dormant period by placing them in a cool room where the air temperature does not exceed 12 ° C.

It should be borne in mind that many types of Echinocereus are frost-resistant plants. So, for example, Echinocereus scarlet and Echinocereus triglochidiatus withstand frosts down to minus 20 - 25 ° C, while completely freezing and becoming transparent. But with the advent of heat, they thaw and come to life again. Therefore, some flower growers keep their Echinocereus on glazed balconies and loggias both in winter and in summer.

But not all species are capable of this. So, Echinocereus thornless dies when the temperature drops to minus 1 - 2 ° C.

Watering. In the spring and summer, watering should be moderate. Plants are watered only after a thorough drying of the earthen comm. The bay is not allowed. If the soil does not dry out for a long time, the roots may rot.

When watering, use soft, well-settled water at room temperature. You can further filter it.

In winter, watering is completely stopped and the cacti are kept completely dry. This requirement especially applies to those plants that are taken out to cold rooms, and, moreover, to frost.

Humidity. Echinocereus do not need spraying. In addition, they are very susceptible to root and stem rot, and prolonged stagnation of water on the surface of the stems can severely damage the plants.

The soil. These cacti need loose mineral soil. At home, ready-made and succulents are quite suitable for them as a substrate, to which a fourth of coarse-grained river sand and the same amount of fine gravel should be added.

fertilizers. Echinocereus rarely feed, for this they use specialized fertilizers for cacti and succulents or orchids. During the growing season, it is enough to fertilize once a month. From autumn to spring, plants do not need to be fed.

Transfer. Young plants are transplanted annually, old ones - as needed, when they become cramped in a pot. Usually such a transplant is carried out every 3 to 4 years, in the spring.

breeds cactus is quite easy both by seeds and baby cuttings.

Diseases and pests. Echinocereus are resistant to both pests and diseases. Almost their only enemy is various rots that develop with high humidity or waterlogging of the soil.