Let ’s talk about a extremely coolheaded group of cacti – the Echinocactus ! These spiky sheik arrive from Mexico and parts of the U.S. There are six master coinage in this genus , with lots of different varieties too .
The most noted Echinocactus is believably the Golden Barrel cactus . As the name hints , it looks just like a golden clod covered in thorn ! This guy give way by the science name Echinocactus grusonii . With its hopeful yellow spine and round barrelful shape , the Golden Barrel definitely stands out .
But the Echinocactus family has agency more members to mark out . Some have twisted spiky newspaper column , while others are short and stout . Their coloring material can roll from unripe to ruddy - brownish . What they all have in vulgar are those piercing spines and a killer ability to thrive in raging , dry climates .
Get ready to meet the whole cool cactus crew ! We ’ll brood what each type looks like , plus tips on how to keep these spiny plants glad at home . It ’s gon na be a spiketastic journeying through the world of Echinocactus .
Contents
Echinocactus Types
Echinocactus grusonii (Golden Barrel Cactus)
barrel cactus grusonii has usually a single easy arise ball - shaped base that became elongated ( barrel - shaped ) in maturity , up to 90 curium ( 180 cm ) in height and spread . It may offset with modern long time and a few multiples occur even at small sizes . Its stem is wan green and heavily poke fun .
Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus
barrel cactus grusonii var . albispinus front just like a regular “ fortunate barrelful cactus ” but the spines are all clean instead of scandalmongering .
Echinocactus horizonthalonius ssp. horizonthalonius
Echinocactus horizonthalonius ssp . horizonthalonius is a comparatively diminished barrel cactus that normally grows unbranched .
Echinocactus horizonthalonius ssp nicholii
The Nichol ’s Turk ’s head cactus ( Echinocactus horizonthalonius subsp nicholii ) , is a little gun barrel cactus normally unbranched . The risque - green stem bear spines on perpendicular , spiraling ridge .
Echinocactus parryi
Globose depressed or shortly cylindric , the Echinocactus parryi is remarkably standardised in morphology to Echinocactus polycephalus but discrete by the style of ontogenesis and whiter spines . This Echinocactus is usually lone but can branch ad lib under normal conditions .
Echinocactus platyacanthus (Candy Barrel Cactus)
Echinocactus platyacanthus ( also known as Echinocactus ingens ) is a easy growing barrel cactus known under the popular name viznaga , it is usually solitary and grows huge in home ground . It could live more than a hundred years and is easy recognized because of its massive sizing , by far the largest of all barrel cacti .
The stem is grey - blue somewhat tuberculate and nice when small , whilst enceinte plant are hard make fun with legion areoles mould a uninterrupted line . They are day - flowering plants with pictorial yellow flowers produced in bound and summer - autumn .
Echinocactus polycephalus (Harem Cactus)
barrel cactus polycephalus is a densely spinous cactus , lonely when young but almost always ramify from the base in age and forming spreading clumps of 20 - 30 caput ( sometimes of more than 100 stem ) . The clumps are usually about 60 atomic number 96 tall and up to 120 centimetre across .
Echinocactus polycephalus subs. xeranthemoides
barrel cactus polycephalus subs . xeranthemoides is similar to Echinocactus polycephalus but globose and smaller . It is tufted and sprouts freely around the base forming unsymmetrical clumps with rarely more than twelve individual heads and is sometimes solitary . The ribs are fewer and bristled .
Echinocactus texensis (Horse Crippler Cactus)
barrel cactus texensis , best known in culture as Homalocephala texensis , is a stalwart barrel cactus , which is alone when immature , very rarely slowly clustering in age .
Echinocactus texensis cv. Anayami Monstr
Echinocactus texensis cv . Anayami Monstr is an rummy monstrous plant with narrow feel - like areoles derived from the well - known Echinocactus texensis . This manikin is rare and very different and has many maverick , more or less big “ wart ” or small subsidiary monstrous ribs between and on the true ribs ’ Earth’s surface .
Both the true ribs and the modest “ warts ” on them bear very stretch , felty areoles fill by more or less pectinate spines . With the exception of the tenacious barbed areoles and atypical rib , all the other characteristics are identical to the standard coinage , namely the size of the stem , flowers and yield .
There is a low chance of flowering but the part of monstrosa is transfer through seeds . By the way , “ Ayanami ” is just the Japanese name of texensis , which mean twilled moving ridge .
Read also:1,000 Types of Cactuses With video
Growing and Caring for Echinocactus
Echinocactus are super cool cactus plants that make awing houseplants . If you savvy their funky spiky look , you ’ll want to know how to keep them happy and healthy .
Light
These cacti erotic love catch lots of sunshine . If growing them indoors , set them up right next to a cheery windowpane . Foroutdoor Echinocactus , pick a spot that gets direct sunlight most of the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Without enough sun , they ’ll start calculate sad and dried-up .
However , be thrifty not to put them in scorching hot sun that ’s too intense . This can in reality burn and damage the cactus pads .
Read also : How Much Sunlight Does a Cactus Need ?
Water
Echinocactus do n’t need a ton of water . Only irrigate them once the soil has wholly dried out from the last watering . check that to empty out any KO’d tray or saucer so no extra urine is just sitting around the hatful . Too much moisture can cause foul root rot .
Also , avoid have water droplets on the cactus itself , specially onsunny days . The water droplet can act like little magnifying glasses and sunburn the cactus where they sit .
Fertilizer
During the bounce and summer growing time of year , feed your Echinocactus some weak cactus fertilizer every 4 - 6 week . A high - potassium plant food works well . But do n’t bother fertilizing in fall and wintertime when they ’re resting .
Read also : Fertilizer for Cactus : When , How and in What Ratio
Soil
Regular potting grease is a no - go for Echinocactus . apply a specialization cactus / succulent soil premix instead . you’re able to also add in perlite to increase drain so no water hangs around .
Climate
These are true desert cacti that hate humidity . They boom in hot , juiceless climates with niggling moisture in the air travel . If growing indoors , make certain their environment stays desiccate and humidness - free , or they ’ll skin .
How to Propagate Echinocactus From Seed
material necessitate :
Step 1 : Prepare the Potting MixFill your source tray or pots with a well - draining cactus / succulent potting mix . mildly pack down the grunge but do n’t take it too firmly .
Step 2 : Sow the SeedsSprinkle the Echinocactus seeds evenly across the soil open . Add a very thin layer of potting admixture over the top , no more than 1/4 in .
dance step 3 : Water InitiallyLightly water the seeded player tray or pots to decide the seed into the soil . Allow any excess water to drain altogether .
Step 4 : Provide Proper EnvironmentIf propagating outdoors in a warm climate , place the tray / can in an area with direct sun . If propagating indoors , lay the seed under a grow luminousness providing 12 - 16 60 minutes of light per daytime . Maintain temperatures around 70 - 85 ° F .
Step 5 : Water ConsistentlyKeep the semen - starting mixture evenly moist but not soggy . urine whenever the top 1/2 inch of soil becomes wry .
Step 6 : Watch for SproutingEchinocactus seed may take 2 - 8 weeks to bourgeon , depend on the miscellanea . watch over for the emergence of the seedlings .
footmark 7 : Increase Sunlight GraduallyOnce sprouted , tardily precede more sunlight if circulate indoors . Increase get off hours and intensity over 2 - 3 calendar week .
Step 8 : Transplant SeedlingsWhen the seedling are 2 - 3 inch tall , transplant them into individual pots with a fresh cactus potting mix .
With proper sunlight , lacrimation , and an optimal grow surround , your Echinocactus seedling will continue produce into mature cacti over the next few age .
Frequently Asked Questions
People always have fate of questions before taking an Echinocactus home . Here are answer to a couple plebeian ones :
How do you repot Echinocactus?
The best fourth dimension is during the spring or summer grow time of year . First , make absolutely sure the soil is bone dry with zero moisture . Remove any dead or rotten roots . you’re able to treat with a antimycotic agent if you want .
Then grab a new pot that ’s just slightly bigger than the old one . Too big and it can lead to problems . Plastic , ceramic , or terracotta peck all lick well as long as they have in force drainage holes .
make full the new pot partway with unused cactus soil , then set the cactus on top and replete in around the side , spread the roots out . Do n’t water right out for at least the first workweek to stave off rot .
How often do barrel cacti bloom?
Barrel cacti like Echinocactus will bloom with stinking peak in the outflow and summertime , generally between April and September . The extra sunniness and warm temporary worker trigger their blooming cycle and allow pollination to occur .
In winter and fall , these cactigo dormant with no bloom blooming during the cool months .
