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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 living conditions for them, 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 mainly emerald green pistil also distinguishes this genus from thousands of other members of the Cactaceae family. The ability to bloom occurs in different ways in different species. 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 earthen mixture (up to 30% sand), and so that the water does not go away quickly, add red brick chips with a fraction of 3-5 mm (about 20%) and the same the size of gravel (up to 20%). As an antiseptic, it is advisable to add crushed hardwood coal (about 5%). The remaining components of the mixture can be made up of peat crumbs (5%) and loamy or sod land, preferably from mole heaps (20%).
Lighting
The denser the thorns your pet has, 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 receive enough nutrients for the formation of buds. Therefore, densely prickly species must be kept on windows with a south and southeast orientation. For low-prickly and thornless plants, any windows, except for the northern ones, are suitable, and on the southern and southeastern ones, they will even have to be shaded, especially at noon. I put these plants in the shade of larger plants.
Fresh air and food
The next important factor in the successful cultivation of Echinocereus is fresh air. At 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 made of film or glass. Echinocereus do not need fertilizing with mineral fertilizers in the first 2-3 years after transplantation, since a properly prepared earthen mixture contains everything necessary for the life of a cactus. Later, you can occasionally use in a low 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
Echinocereus wintering should be absolutely dry and cold, preferably light, so as not to waste precious time at the beginning of the growing season for accustoming the plant to light. Spring sun rays can burn a cactus, so a little shading in the first days from active solar radiation is simply necessary, even with a bright winter. Most Echinocereus are frost-hardy, but a temperature of 8-12 ° C will be enough for them to winter 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, light foggy spraying can be started, but only after the establishment of fairly stable sunny days. In the middle lane, it can be in March-April. However, if the plant "shrank" strongly over the winter, and the weather does not favor, then, without waiting for its improvement, it will be necessary to spray with slightly warm boiled water (without watering). This will prevent the buds from dropping off. The procedure can be carried out at an air temperature of at least 10-12 ° C and make sure that moisture drops do not accumulate on the surface of the stem.
All types of echinocereus and photos
Crested (Pectinatus)
A succulent of the cactus family, reaching a height of 15 cm and a diameter of 6 cm. The stem of the plant is cylindrical with low ribs, covered with small, bright, radial spines, comb-like adhering to the surface of the stem. Has a rounded top.
For the culture, it is necessary to observe full sunlight, only in these conditions will flowering be full.
Bloom time: April-June. Lilac flower, funnel-shaped, with a wide-open corolla, 8 cm in diameter. The petals gradually brighten towards the core.
Scarlet (Coccineus)
Numerous and widespread. The size of the plant can be from 8 to 40 cm, the stems are semi-erect, densely covered with thorns or almost completely without them, dark green, 5 cm in diameter. The ribs can be from 8 to 11. The thorns, 7.5 cm long, have no division into central and radial.
Scarlet cactus does not need special conditions for growth and flowering.
In adulthood, the plant forms colonies of 50-100 thick stems. The flowers have petals with rounded tops, 8 cm long and 3 cm wide. The stigma of the pistil has 7 or 8 lobes. The flower color can be lilac-pink, yellow or red-orange... After flowering, fruits ripen in 2-3 months.
Reichenbach (Reichenbachii)
Latin name: Echinocereus reichenbachii.
Cactus is cylindrical in shape, can have up to 12 shoots. Covered with comb spines pressed to the body. The stem is erect, simple or branching, up to 25 cm high. The ribs of a plant are from 10 to 19, they are pronounced, narrow, straight or slightly wavy and divided into tubercles.
The plant requires more moisture than desert cacti.
We talked about cacti growing in the desert.
Areoles are elliptical, elongated upward, close to each other. Woolly, but as they mature, the plants become bare. Radial spines from 20 to 36, they are thin, straight and rigid, 5-8 mm long. The spines of adjacent areoles tend to intertwine with each other. Flowering period: May-June. The flowers are large and numerous, pink or purple in color(read about cacti with pink flowers).
Three-spined (Triglochidiatus)
This type of cactus has thick, spherical stems, the diameter of which reaches seven centimeters, and the length is thirty. Branches profusely at the base. The plant has seven ribs, spines are few, powerful, ribbed, 2.5 cm in size. In a bunch, there are up to ten yellowish radial needles and about four darker central needles. Red flowers.
Green-flowered (Viridiflorus)
It belongs to dwarf plants with stems not exceeding 4 cm in diameter. Forms small groups, which are formed due to the growth of lateral shoots.
Preparing for wintering, the stems of cactus plants dry out and, being in this state, easily tolerate low temperatures.
Flowering occurs in the spring, abundant. Numerous flowers are greenish and a subtle lemon scent.
Thornless (Subinermis)
Originally from Central Mexico. This species has a spherical stem and 5-8 large ribs. The spines are very short, yellowish in color, up to 4 mm in size, quickly fall off, and sometimes are completely absent. Flowering occurs in the summer. Plant flowers are yellow, up to 9 cm in diameter. During the growing season, the plant needs to be protected from direct sunlight and regularly watered.
Sheri
The plant got its specific name in honor of the flower collector Frederic Sher. Stems are elongated, glabrous, up to 15 cm long and with 8-10 low ribs, form a bush. The plant has short thorns, up to 3 mm, radial and one central, more powerful, dark, up to 1 cm long. Red flowers, unfold at night, exuding a delicate aroma (more materials about cacti with red flowers).
Hardest (Rigidissimus)
In the area of geographical distribution, the species is called "Arizona cactus hedgehog". A plant with a cylindrical straight stem, 7-10 cm in diameter. The flowers of the plant are large, up to 10 cm, pink or purple shades... There are 15-23 radial spines and they are located in the areoles comb-like, that is, they are slightly bent towards the body of the cactus. The central spines are absent. Areoles are bristly, golden brown in color. In this species, the thorns are painted in white, pink, brown and often form multi-colored zones on the stem, for this feature the plant was named "rainbow cactus".
Dry wintering is necessary for successful flowering. Outwardly, it has some resemblance to another member of the Cactaceae family, Echinopsis.
The variety of Echinocereus can be endlessly surprised. They are large and small, prickly and fluffy. They can be in the form of a ball, bush and column. A plant that gratefully responds to care, will surely reward the grower with its magnificent abundant flowering.
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Echinocereus is a separate genus of the cactus family, which includes about 60 plant species. The homeland of this species of cacti is the southern part of North America.
Description of the flower
Distinctive features characteristic of all cacti of this genus are the following features:
- Small size (the height of this species of cactus does not exceed 60 cm);
- Strongly branching shoots;
- The presence of a halo with thorns on buds and tubes;
- The appearance after flowering of edible fruits, covered with a reddish skin, in place of the buds.
Perhaps this is where the common features end. The rest of the Echinocereus cacti from species to species can be very different from each other. The stem of a flower can be either spherical or cylindrical. Ribs can be spiral or straight, well-defined or poorly defined. The flowers that the plant produces may also vary. The color, shape of the trunk, the number of petals and thorns in the halos, the size of the flower, the shape of the bud may vary greatly from species to species.
The thorns of the plant can be hard, straight and long and shortened, adjacent to the stem. The needles cover almost the entire surface of the plant, as well as the fruits and stems of flowers.
More than 30 varieties of cacti have been successfully cultivated by gardeners and turned into pets. Read about the most popular ones below.
Types of cactus
Echinocereus comb, grown at home, can refer to the following species:
- Echinocereus comb. This type of cactus is characterized by a cylindrical stem with a rounded top, the height of which does not exceed 20 cm. On the surface of the stem, there are 20-30 scallops. Short spines are pressed to the stem. During flowering, voluminous funnel-shaped flowers of a pale pink color with a diameter of 6-8 cm appear on the upper part of the trunk.
- Echinocereus Reichenbach. The length of the trunk of a cactus of this subspecies reaches 25 cm. The stems are colored dark green and in the process of growth they release many green shoots. On the surface of the cactus, there are 19 spiral ribs, completely covered with halos with long white-yellow spines and light pubescence. The spines are slightly curved, which makes this species of cactus well recognizable. During the flowering period, Reichenbach has pink or purple flowers, the diameter of the open buds of which reaches 10 cm.The species includes several varieties: armatus (covered with reddish-brown thorns), baileyi (covered with rare bunches of thorns) and albispinus (needles pressed against the trunk).
- Echinocereus three-spined. The spherical stems of the plant stretch out during growth and turn into cylindrical succulents. Gray-green plant stems are covered with 5-12 ribs with short spines. One halo contains several central needles and a bundle of yellow radial needles surrounding them. During flowering, the plant produces small flowers with rounded petals.
- Echinocereus is the hardest. This is a very beautiful flower. On the columnar stem of the cactus, there are 15-23 vertically located ribs. The dark green peel of the stem is covered with reddish or yellow-white spines adjacent to the stem. Since the needles have a slightly curved shape, an original scallop coating forms on top of the stem. During the flowering period, the flower produces large lilac, pinkish or yellow flowers.
- Echinocereus thornless. Cacti of this type have thorns. But they are so short and pressed against the stem that it seems as if the plant does not have them. The surface of the stem is covered with embossed ridges in the amount of up to 11 units. During flowering, the cactus produces large yellow flowers with a large number of petals, the diameter of which is 12 cm.
How to properly grow a cactus
Echinocereus is a plant that does not require the creation of any difficult conditions for full growth and reproduction.
Adequate home care involves simple, regular activities, which you can read more about below.
Lighting
Echinocereus, like all other cacti, loves a lot of light, therefore, pots with such flowers are placed in well-lit greenhouses, on balconies or on the window sills of windows facing south. Direct sunlight is desirable and beneficial. Therefore, it is recommended to expose the pots to fresh air during the summer, providing protection from rain and drafts. If you have cacti with sparse thorns, they must be accustomed to the sun's rays gradually so that the plant does not get burned.
Temperature
In the summertime, the Echinocereus crested plant is comfortable even on very hot days. But in the autumn, the cactus will need to be kept in cool (not to be confused with cold!) Conditions. On cold days, it is advisable to keep the temperature indicator around + 12 ° C. In nature, Echinocereus survives frosty winters perfectly. But indoor plants should not be tested with such low temperatures.
Watering features
The flower is watered in moderation. Subsequent watering is carried out only when the soil in the pot dries out. It is recommended to use settled water at room temperature. The cactus grows well and develops in low humidity. However, infrequent spraying with water will still be beneficial.
Important! Over-watering can cause root rot. In such a situation, watering is suspended, the plant is transplanted into fresh soil, and the roots are treated with fungicides.
Top dressing
The Echinocereus cactus is fertilized from April to August every month. For this, special formulations are used, which can be purchased at a specialized store. Chemistry is diluted in water and the flower is watered. It is not recommended to use non-specialized formulations for feeding. Better to transplant the plant into fresh soil.
How to transplant a flower
Adults are transplanted once every 2-4 years. It is advisable to choose pots that are wide, but shallow (such containers can accommodate a large number of shoots). Expanded clay, broken brick or shards must be poured at the bottom of the pot. For transplanting a plant, a light earth mixture is suitable, which you can buy at a store or prepare it yourself.
Prepare soil for planting cacti as follows. Mix 1/2 part of leaf and sod land and river sand, and 1/4 part of fine peat.
Important! Do not use soil from flower beds, vegetable gardens and front gardens for transplanting plants, since pests may be present in its composition.
The transplanted flower is watered over the next 2-3 days.
The plant has good immunity, thanks to which Echinocereus cacti are almost never exposed to pests and infectious diseases.
Crested Echinocereus from the numerous cactaceous family, grows in Mexico - high-mountain forests and between rocks. It owes its name to the comb-like arrangement of the lateral spines.
The plant does not grow too large, which is why it is often grown at home. Florists 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. Blooms in 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, what it looks like - all this will be our conversation today on the site "Popularly about health":
In the photo, Echinocereus comb
After the purchase
Before you buy this little thorny miracle at a flower shop, carefully examine it so as not to acquire a sick or pest-infested plant. Pay attention to the hollows between its ridges - it is there that small insects are hiding.
At home, keep it separate from other plants for a week, then put it on a bright, well-lit windowsill. The southern window is most suitable.
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 there coarse clean sand and gravel (a quarter of both). Do not forget to pour a drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
Care of 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 out to the balcony. Only for the first time shade it from the direct sun and be sure to protect it from rain.
In winter, a dormant period begins and it requires a cooler temperature - no higher than 12C. Therefore, put it in a less lit and cooler place.
Watering:
From spring, until the onset of autumn, water regularly, not abundantly, only after the soil has completely dried out. Use soft, not cold, settled, but preferably filtered water. Don't pour the cactus! This can lead to root rot.
In winter, the plant is transferred to "dry mode" and watering is completely stopped. This is especially true for those species that require 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, this should be done in the summer. Let the plant rest in winter.
Top dressing:
In caring for your pet from May to the end of July, include fertilizing with fertilizers intended for cacti once a month. In winter, there is a dormant period when feeding is stopped.
Reproduction:
Echinocereus propagation is carried out by seeds or, which is more convenient, by lateral processes. The seed method allows you to get a lot of young plants in a short time, however, varietal characteristics can be lost. Let's consider both ways:
Before sowing seeds, they must be kept in the refrigerator 2-3
weeks, that is, subject to cold stratification. After that, spread the seeds evenly on moistened sandy soil, cover the container with glass on top or tighten with foil.
Place in a warm, bright place with diffused sunlight. Do not forget to regularly air the plantings, moisten the soil from a spray bottle.
The first shoots will appear in about three weeks. After that
the 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 choose to propagate the cactus with scions, carefully separate them from the main plant. Place on a napkin in a warm, bright place, leave for three days. Then place it on moistened sandy soil and press lightly. Immediately after separating the shoots, sprinkle the cut area on the cactus trunk with chopped charcoal.
When the seedlings give roots, plant them in separate pots, put them on a warm, bright window, but shade from the direct sun. It is impossible to water for a month from the moment of planting.
In two weeks, young cacti will take root and begin to actively develop. Caring for them is the same as for an adult cactus.
In conclusion, we note that crested Echinocereus, the photo of which 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 cool wintering, without watering.
Echinocereus (Echinocereus) is a genus of plants of the Cactaceae family, numbering about 60 species, growing on the territory of North America, in its southern part.
A feature of all cacti of this genus is their low growth, up to 60 cm, strongly branching shoots and, most importantly, the presence of areoles with thorns on flower buds and tubes, due to which these cacti received the prefix "Echinus" in their generic name, which translates from Greek as “hedgehog”.
The flowers of these cacti, like most members of the family, are single, tubular, funnel-shaped, multi-petalled. After flowering, small juicy fleshy fruits are tied, in many species not only edible, but also very tasty.
Otherwise, there are strong differences from species to species. The 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 have been successfully cultivated and loved by flower growers. And the most common ones are as follows:
Echinocereus Reichenbach(Echinocereus reichenbachii) - a cactus with cylindrical branching shoots, in an adult state reaching a length of about 25 cm and a width of 9 cm.It has 10 - 19 straight or slightly curved ribs, dotted with fluffy areoles with light straw thorns, which stand out in contrast on the dark green surface stem. There are 20 to 36 radial spines. They are slightly curved and pressed against the surface of the cactus, resembling in appearance combs or spiders. Central spines may or may not be pronounced, depending on the variety of the given cactus. The flowers are large, up to 10 cm in diameter, bright pink-purple. Lanceolate petals form 3 - 4-tiered corolla.
Popular subspecies of this plant:
– E. R. Armatus(E. r. Armatus) has about 20 straight low ribs. Central spines, in the amount of 2 - 4 pieces, about 3 cm long, straight, light brown at the base, dark brown at the ends.
– E. R. Baile(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. The 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 varieties among cactus growers. Areoles are large, with white pubescence, radial spider spines of white color, no central spines. The pink flowers are relatively small, only 7 cm in diameter. The tips of the petals are torn.
– E. R. alberti(E. r. Albertii) - one of the smallest varieties, only 5 - 15 cm in height. There are practically no central spines, or they are hardly noticeable, no more than 3 mm in length. Areoles are located almost closely to each other. The radial spines are also small, only 3 - 6 mm long, as in the main species, similar to comb-like spiders. The flowers are purple, about 7 cm in diameter.
Echinocereus three-spined(Echinocereus triglochidiatus) at a young age has spherical stems, which later stretch out and become cylindrical. The ribs are relatively few, 5 - 12. Like the previous species, it has many varieties, greatly differing from each other in the number and length of spines. But the long flowering is common to all plants of the species, flowers last 2 - 3 days.
Popular subspecies of this plant.
– E t. Mohavsky(E. t. Mojavensis) has many flat curved thorns 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 invisible through the "thickets" of thorns. The central thorn is one. And it almost does not differ in length from radial ones. The flowers are red-orange, about 8 cm in diameter. The peculiarity of this variety is "nepotism" - over time, the cactus grows and forms rather large clusters, uniting up to 100 specimens.
– E. t. Mohavsky inermis(E. t. Mojavensis inermis) - unlike the previous variety, this cactus has no or few thorns at all and they are very short, up to 5 mm long. Flowers do not appear like all cacti, from the areola, but a little higher, because of which, after flowering and the fall of the 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 pcs. and form rather large "combs" (or "spiders"), bending towards the body of the cactus. In shade, they are yellow-white, and in bright enough light they acquire a pink color, due to which the 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, forming 2 - 3 tiers.
The variety ‘ rubrispinus'The spines are almost completely red.
Echinocereus thornless(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 is the strongly pronounced deeply cut ribs, of which there are from 5 to 11 pieces. Areoles are rather small, with 3 - 8 short radial spines of a grayish color. Their length varies from 1 to 7 mm. The flowers are large, up to 12 cm in diameter, yellow. The petals are lanceolate or oval, with a pointed tip, in shape. They stay on the plant for almost a whole week.
Echinocereus care at home
The popularity of Echinocereus among flower growers is caused not least of all by their unpretentiousness. Even among other cacti, they are distinguished by their undemanding content.
Lighting... Echinocereus needs bright lighting all year round, direct sunlight is desirable. Therefore, the best place to place it will be windows with a southern direction. In summer, the cactus feels good outdoors, on the balcony or in the garden.
Temperature... The optimal summer temperature range is 25 - 30 ° C. In winter, these cacti should be kept dormant 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. For example, Echinocereus Sharlach and Echinocereus triglochidiatus can withstand temperatures down to minus 20 - 25 ° C, while completely freezing and becoming transparent. But with the arrival of warmth, they thaw and come to life again. Therefore, some growers, both in winter and in summer, keep their echinocereus on glazed balconies and loggias.
But not all species are capable of this. So, thornless Echinocereus 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 thorough drying of the earthen comma. The bay is unacceptable. With prolonged non-drying of the soil, the roots can rot.
When watering, use soft, well-settled water at room temperature. You can additionally 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 into cold rooms, and, moreover, into 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 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 one should add a fourth of coarse-grained river sand and the same amount of fine gravel.
Fertilizers... Echinocereus are rarely fed, for this they use specialized fertilizers for cacti and succulents or orchids. During the growing season, it is enough to apply fertilizer once a month. From autumn to spring, plants do not need feeding.
Transfer... Young plants are transplanted annually, old ones - as needed, when they become cramped in the pot. Usually, such a transplant is carried out every 3-4 years, in the spring.
Breeds cactus is quite easy both by seeds and by cuttings-babies.
Diseases and pests... Echinocereus are resistant to both pests and diseases. Almost their only enemy is various rot, which develop with high humidity or waterlogging of the soil.
