Echinopsis

The Echinopsis plant is a representative of the Cactus family. This name can be translated as "like a hedgehog" - it was invented by Carl Linnaeus, who compared the representatives of the genus with a curled up hedgehog. This genus of cacti includes more than a hundred species, many of which are very common in home floriculture. In nature, Echinopsis live on the South American continent and are found on the territory of many states.

Today, of all the variety of Cactus, Echinopsis are considered one of the most popular types used for home decoration. These plants were finally domesticated in the middle of the 19th century, and by now a large number of their hybrid forms with flowers of various colors have been bred. They are found on sale more often than species plants.

Description of echinopsis

Young echinopsis have a spherical shape, but as they develop, they stretch upward and begin to take the shape of a cylinder. Such a cactus is gradually able to achieve human growth and even surpass it. Its stems are smooth, shiny, with symmetrical sharp edges. Lateral stalks rarely appear. The color of the stem can vary from dark to light green. The root system is powerful enough, but shallow. Areoles with hard spines are equidistant from each other.

The size of the thorns in different species may differ, it can be very small or several centimeters. Their shape can be straight or curved. During the flowering period, funnel-shaped flowers with a diameter of up to 15 cm and a length of about 30 cm are formed on the stem. They have 7 rows of petals and are located on a pubescent tube. The buds develop from areoles located in the middle of the stem. The color of the relatively narrow petals includes shades of white, red, yellow and orange, as well as pink and purple. Some species give off a rather strong and pleasant smell. In some Echinopsis, flowers open in the daytime, in the rest - at night. The number of buds depends on the age of the cactus (the older the plant, the more abundantly it can bloom), as well as the conditions in which it is kept. Adult specimens are able to form up to 25 flowers at a time, but each of them stays on the plant only up to 3 days. The lifespan of each flower is influenced by external factors - especially temperature. After flowering, juicy fruits are formed, which contain shiny black seeds.

In nature, Echinopsis often form islet groups, formed thanks to the children growing to the sides.

Brief rules for growing echinopsis

The table shows brief rules for caring for echinopsis at home.

Echinopsis care at home

The subtleties of growing echinopsis practically do not differ from caring for other similar plants. Echinopsis are unpretentious and are able to spend a long time without watering and other attention from the owner. But for healthy development and full flowering, they still need certain conditions.

Lighting

Echinopsis needs bright lighting all year round. The plant is practically not afraid of direct sun and feels great on southern windows even in summer. The exception is too scorching rays in the daytime - for this period, the pot with echinopsis can be slightly shaded. In the warm season, you can transfer the cactus to the air - to the balcony or to the garden. But during the period of active development, it is too often not worth disturbing the flower - it should be turned to the light with one side. Cacti are especially sensitive to this in the budding or flowering phase. It is not recommended to turn or move the pot with them.

If Echinopsis has been in a semi-shady room for a long time, it should be transferred to the light gradually. Otherwise, burn marks may appear on the surface of the stem, which appear in the form of brown spots. In case of insufficient lighting in winter, additional lighting can be used. Lamps are installed half a meter above the cactus.

Temperature

During the growth period - in spring and summer - echinopsis should be in a warm corner, where it keeps at least 20 degrees. Starting in October, when the dormant period begins for the cactus, it is recommended to gradually lower the temperature in the room with it to 8-10 degrees or move the pot to cool. But the flower should remain in a bright place. The cactus will appreciate the regular supply of fresh air, although it must be protected from drafts.

Watering

Echinopsis should be watered during the phase of its active development - from March to October. Overdrying the plant tolerates waterlogging more easily, so watering is carried out when the soil in the pot dries out at least half. You can check this with a thin wooden stick. By sticking it into the ground and pulling it out, you can understand whether the soil at its end was wet. You can also just wait about 2-3 days after the topsoil has dried. For irrigation, well-settled or filtered water at room temperature is used.

Starting from October, the number of irrigations and their volume are significantly reduced, holding them no more than once a month. Sometimes during this period, cacti are not watered at all.

Humidity level

It is not required to moisten the surface of the stems from the sprayer neither in winter nor in summer - such plants perceive well the usual level of humidity in the room, they are not afraid even of the proximity of batteries. The ability to transfer dry air to Echinopsis is provided by a tough, as if waxed skin. An exception is made for those cases when too much dust accumulates on the cactus. You can arrange a warm shower for such a plant, cleaning it with a soft brush or brush, but the ground should be covered with a film before water procedures. After washing, the cactus should be dried in the shade and only then returned to a sunny place.

The soil

For growing echinopsis, a ready-made substrate for cacti or a self-created mixture of a neutral reaction is suitable. It should be loose and breathable. It can be composed of sand and leafy soil, a double piece of turf, and half of a piece of fine gravel. Experts recommend adding charcoal to the finished soil - it can prevent the development of putrefactive processes.

Top dressing

In their natural environment, Echinopsis grow on poor soils, so excess nutrients can be harmful to them. But home plants, constrained by a pot, are still fed moderately. Echinopsis begins to fertilize after the end of the dormant period, from March. Top dressing is applied once a month. For this, special formulations for cactus or succulent plants are suitable in the recommended dosage. For a dormant period - from October to spring - they stop fertilizing the bushes.

Transfer

Adult mature specimens of Echinopsis do not need to be frequently changed in capacity; they are transplanted only when the roots of the cactus become too cramped in the old place. Transplants are carried out no more than once every 2 or 3 years, when the roots of the plant fill the topsoil or begin to peep into the drainage holes. Without timely movement and in the absence of fertilizing, they will begin to lose their decorative effect and grow rustic. Adults and large cacti do not need to be touched at all - just replace the top 5 cm of soil in their pot about once a year. Younger specimens need to be changed every year, it is carried out in March.

For echinopsis, a low and wide capacity is suitable. The roots of such cacti are horizontal and do not go deep. A drainage layer of expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pot. After that, the cactus is pulled out of the old container, transferring it to a new pot along with a soil lump. In order not to be pricked, you should protect your hands with thick gloves, and wrap the cactus itself in several layers of paper. The voids are filled with fresh soil, and then it is lightly tamped. After transplanting, the cactus should be protected from direct sun for the first time. At the same time, the next watering is not carried out immediately, but after about a week - this will insure the plant against root rot.

Bloom

Despite the short life span, the buds and flowers of Echinopsis are highly decorative. Its flowers are often large and have a pleasant aroma, but they appear only if all the rules for caring for the plant are observed.

If a cactus does not want to bloom, you should check what conditions it is in and whether they make mistakes in caring for it. Flowering may depend on compliance with the conditions of a warm (above 20 degrees) summer and a cool winter - during this period, the temperature can range from 5 to 10 degrees. A cactus needs bright lighting throughout the year; without it, it will not bloom either. Echinopsis weakened by putrefactive processes will also not form buds.

Children are capable of taking away strength from an adult plant. Their presence often inhibits flowering, so the daughter shoots should be separated and planted in a timely manner.

Echinopsis breeding methods

For reproduction of home echinopsis, you can use its seeds or baby shoots.

Growing from seeds

Seed propagation is not practiced as often, as it takes longer and requires prior purchase of seeds or pollination of your own Echinopsis.At the same time, it is seed reproduction that allows you to get the strongest and most abundant flowering cacti.

To obtain high-quality seed, you will need two different plants (the mother bush and the baby taken from it will not work). You can also try to pollinate Echinopsis with other cactus species blooming at the same time. If you wish, you can store its pollen in the refrigerator - its pollination properties disappear a couple of months after collection.

Echinopsis seeds are large enough to germinate. Before sowing, cactus seeds should be held in warm water until they swell. You can also use a disinfecting solution (potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide in a weak concentration). A shallow container is used for sowing. It is filled with moist soil, including charcoal, leafy earth and sand in equal proportions. A light peat-sand mixture is also suitable. It is advisable to pre-disinfect the soil. Seeds are sown in the substrate, laid out on the surface, and the container is covered with glass or foil. Crops should be in a warm (about +20) and bright place. They are ventilated every day, and, if necessary, moistened. Condensation forming on the shelter should be removed. With the appearance of round green seedlings (after about 1-3 weeks), the film is removed. When the first hairy spines appear on the sprouts, cacti can be dived into small separate cups. The pick is carried out with tweezers, transferring the seedlings along with a small lump of soil. This procedure increases the rate of their growth, although the shoots of Echinopsis usually develop rather quickly without it.

Department of children

Adult bushes are capable of forming babies, which are easily used for plant propagation. Spring is considered the best time to transplant them.

The shoot can not be cut off, but simply carefully unscrewed from the cactus, having previously protected your hands. Places of scrap are sprinkled with crushed coal or wood ash. Having separated such a baby, it should be dried in the air for at least a day in order to allow the cut to drag on. When a film forms on it, the scion is placed in its own pot filled with wet sand. The baby is lightly pressed into the substrate and propped up with a match or other suitable object so that it does not fall. It usually takes a couple of weeks to root. You can then move the young cactus into soil more suitable for growing it.

At the same time, it is believed that cacti obtained from children bloom less often than seedlings. A long period of vegetative propagation weakens the decorative qualities of long-cultivated plants. Such cacti form more babies and fewer flowers, and also become more susceptible to various diseases. However, with proper care, the resulting echinopsis can begin to form flowers after about 3 years.

Bush rejuvenation

Like most cacti, echinopsis does not need pruning, but such a procedure will help rejuvenate older, overgrown plant specimens. Usually, this pruning is combined with the breeding process. The top of the stem of the old cactus is carefully cut off with a sharp instrument and left to air dry for about a couple of weeks. Then the separated part is placed in wet sand. The old cactus remaining in the pot should form young growth soon after such a procedure.

Pests and diseases

Possible diseases

Echinopsis is highly resistant to diseases and pests. Most often, problems with him happen due to non-observance of the correct watering regime. Stagnant water in the soil can lead to decay of the roots and stem of the plant. On cacti weakened by excessive watering, other diseases can develop, including rust, late blight or spotting.

At the first signs of rot, it is necessary to pull the cactus out of the ground and cut out all affected parts with a sharp and sterile instrument.The sections are treated with a fungicide, and then dried and the plant is transplanted into fresh soil, trying to replace the maximum of the old soil. To prevent the development of rot, it is necessary to water the cactus rarely and little by little in the warm season, and not to spill it at all during the cold season, during the rest period. If the cactus is accidentally waterlogged, you should wait a longer period before watering again.

Pests

Sometimes Echinopsis becomes the habitat of the spider mite. This pest prefers low air humidity, therefore, it often infects cacti, feeding on their juice. In this case, the plant is covered with a thin cobweb. A small number of ticks can be removed from echinopsis with the help of folk remedies, for example, soap solution. Before processing, the soil should be covered with a film, and half an hour after applying the solution, wash the cactus under warm water. If soap does not help, echinopsis is sprayed with a solution of acaricide. It is recommended to choose less toxic drugs, as well as to carry out procedures for air treatment.

Types of echinopsis with photos and names

Most often, on the windowsills, you can find a variety of hybrids of Echinopsis obtained through crossing, but sometimes there are also species cacti among them. Some of the most popular varieties in home gardening include the following:

Echinopsis sharp-edged (Echinopsis oxygona)

Globular cactus of rich green color. Echinopsis oxygona has up to 14 ribs with rounded edges. The size of the bush in diameter ranges from 5 to 25 cm. The surface of the stems is covered with light fleecy areoles. They have central spines in the form of needles. They also have a light color, and their number reaches 15 pieces. The flowers reach 22 cm in length and can be pink or reddish in color. The fruits are green in color and up to 4 cm long with a diameter of up to 2 cm.

Echinopsis eyriesii

This species is distinguished by a ribbed stem that has a dark green color. The ribs of Echinopsis eyriesii are covered with areoles, on which there are medium-sized balls of light silvery down and several short subulate spines. Such echinopsis is capable of forming many processes on the side of the stem. The length of the flowers reaches 25 cm. The palette of their colors includes tones of white and pink. In some cases, there may be a dark pink stripe in the middle of the petals. The flowers open at night, but they can remain on the stem even on a cool, cloudy day.

Echinopsis tubiflora (Echinopsis tubiflora)

Argentine endemic species. Young specimens are spherical, but as they develop, they turn into a cylinder. Echinopsis tubiflora has about a dozen distinct, deep ribs. Areolas can be black, gray, or white. The spines are yellowish in color with darker tips. Each areola has about 3-4 median spines up to 3.5 cm long, as well as about 20 smaller (up to 2.5 cm) radial spines. The length of the funnel-shaped flowers reaches 25 cm with a diameter of up to 10 cm. The corolla is white in color, and there is ashy pubescence on the tube. A pleasant smell comes from the flowers.

Echinopsis hook-nosed (Echinopsis ancistrophora)

This cactus has a small spherical stem that is flattened at both the top and bottom. In Echinopsis ancistrophora, it reaches 8 cm in diameter. The stem is covered with ribs with noticeable bulges. Light areoles form up to a dozen light-colored radial spines. They are bent in different directions. There is usually only one central spine, its length reaches 2 cm. It has a brown color and a hooked crown. On a small stem of such a cactus, these needles seem rather large.

Flowers can form on the side of the stem. They bloom during the day, but do not smell at all. The flower is about 15 cm long. Its color is red, orange, white or pink. The fruits are greenish or purple in color. Their width is about 1 cm and a length of about 1.5 cm.

Echinopsis golden (Echinopsis aurea)

The species lives only in some Argentine provinces.Young specimens of this species have spherical stems, which gradually begin to stretch upward and turn into a cylinder. Echinopsis aurea can be up to 10 cm in height and about 5 cm in diameter. The stem is deep green and covered with a waxy coating. It has up to 15 clear and high ribs. They are covered with areoles with a brownish downy. In the center of each areola, up to 4 spines, about 3 cm long, are formed. On the sides there are up to 10 needles, 1 cm each. This species can form abundant basal shoots. In summer, bell flowers up to 8 cm in diameter are formed on the central or lower half of the stem. They have a perianth covered with bristly pubescence and pointed yellow-orange petals. After flowering, oval fruits are tied.

Echinopsis huascha

Hybrid form with dark green stems. Echinopsis huascha can have straight or curved stems. Their height can be both half a meter and almost a meter with a diameter of about 5-8 cm. Near the base, the stems begin to branch. Each has about 12-18 ribs covered with light brown pubescent areoles. Each areola bears 1-2 thin median spines up to 6 cm long and about a dozen shorter lateral needles up to 4 cm long. During flowering, flowers about 7-10 cm long are formed on the upper part of the stems, located on shortened tubes. Their coloration includes tones of red and yellow and can be quite bright. The fruits are also red or yellow in color, their diameter is about 3 cm.

Echinopsis white-flowered (Echinopsis leucantha)

Such a cactus has gray-green stems, which are a sphere or a shortened cylinder up to 12 cm in diameter. The height of Echinopsis leucantha can reach about 35 cm. Each stem has up to 14 blunt and bumpy ribs. Slightly elongated areoles are light yellow in color. They have up to 10 radial yellow-brown spines up to 2.5 cm long and one median needle, bending upwards. Its length can be up to 10 cm. The species forms snow-white flowers with petals arranged in several tiers. They appear in the upper half of the stem. The length of each flower can reach 20 cm. Fruits are round, burgundy.

Echinopsis mamillosa (Echinopsis mamillosa)

Such echinopsis has neat flattened stems of a dark green color. Its height is about 13 cm. The stem of Echinopsis mamillosa has about 15 deep, pointed ribs with distinct tubercles. Rounded areoles form up to 4 central needles with brown tips. Their length reaches only 1 cm, and the radial spines in the form of an awl have the same size. The spines are yellowish. The flowers bloom at night, they are slightly curved and funnel-shaped. They can be pink or white with pinkish edges on the petals. The flower is about 15 cm long and about 8 cm wide. Fruits are spherical.

Echinopsis multiplex

The spherical stems of Echinopsis multiplex expand at the base, and their height reaches 15 cm. There are up to 15 ribs on the stem. On them are areoles covered with white fluff. Each of them grows up to 5 central needles up to 4 cm long and no more than 15 radial needles 2 times smaller in size. They are light yellow in color. Flowers of white-pink color are very fragrant, their diameter reaches 15 cm.

Echinopsis subdenudata

Or almost naked, half-naked. The unusual name Echinopsis subdenudata is associated with the almost complete absence of thorns on its surface - their number is small, and the size is only a couple of millimeters. This miniature cactus with light pubescent areoles is often used in flower arrangements. In spring, it forms large white flowers - the tube is about 20 cm long. They bloom in the morning and stay on the plant for about a day.

Echinopsis grusonii (Echinopsis grusonii)

Mexican look. Echinopsis grusonii has a green glossy stem that gradually turns from a ball into a kind of barrel.In height and width, such a cactus can grow up to 1 m.Under optimal conditions, it does not form daughter shoots and does not begin to bush. Adult specimens have up to 40 pointed ribs, densely covered with pubescent areoles. As they approach the top of the stem, the areoles begin to merge, forming a kind of "cap" of a light yellow hue. Each areola has about 4 central spines up to 5 cm long and about a dozen radial needles about 4 cm in size. They are golden in color and stand out beautifully against the background of the dark green stem. Because of this feature, the species is also known as the "golden ball" and "golden barrel".

In late spring or at the very beginning of summer, on the crown of an adult (at least 20 years old) cactus, whose thickness is at least 40 cm, single yellow flowers with a diameter of up to 5 cm and a length of about 7 cm are formed.The tubes of the flowers are covered with tomentose pubescence, and the flowers themselves have elongated petals with golden brown tops.