Echinopsis ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

the essentials in brief

• Echinopsis is a species-rich cactus genus from South America with colorful flowers that are up to 27 cm long and 15 cm in diameter are enthroned above a spherical to columnar plant body with long or short ones thorns.
• Plant Echinopsis in a pot with well-drained cactus soil for a sunny and warm location on the window sill or the summery balcony.
• Care tips: water sparingly from March to August fertilize, overwinter frost-free, propagate with cuttings or by means sowing.
• Important: Echinopsis only flower after a three-month hibernation in a bright, cool location.
• Beautiful varieties: Kriemhild Rheingold, Canary Wes, Crepe Crusader Schick, Fluffy Ruffles, Greetings from Altenbergen, Love Story Rheingold.

Characteristics

• Family: cactus (Cactaceae)
• Genus: Echinopsis
• Species: 135 to 180 species
• Origin: South America
• Synonyms: peasant cactus, hedgehog cactus
• Growth form: spherical to columnar
• Growth height: 5 cm to 6 m
• Flower shape: bowl-shaped to funnel-shaped
• Hardiness: not hardy

origin

The original range of Echinopsis extends over Argentina. The type species of the genus Echinopsis eyriesii comes from near Buenos Aires. In the mid-1980s, the Echinopsis genus saw numerous additions. Among other things, until then independent cactus genera were assigned to it, such as Lobivia, Pseudolobivia or Trichocereus. As a result, the area of ​​origin expanded to include Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and central and southern Brazil.

hardiness

The South American origin leaves no doubt. Echinopsis cacti are not hardy. A few species from the high altitudes of the Andes tolerate short-term temperatures around the freezing point. As a rule, echinopses have to hibernate behind glass when the mercury column outside falls below the 10 degree mark.

blossom

Echinopsis flowers are unsurpassed in splendor among the cacti. With a length of up to 27 centimeters and a diameter of 15 centimetres, the beautiful calyxes rise above the lush green to grey-green plant body. The variety of flower colors leaves nothing to be desired. With the exception of blue, green and black tones, peasant cactus and conspecifics bloom in all conceivable nuances and shades. The following video gives an impression:

Admire fairytale Echinopsis flowers in time lapse

species

The Echinopsis genus brings together more than 130 magnificent species under one roof with different growth forms, sizes and thorn lengths. The following table gives you a closer look at popular and well-known species:

Echinopsis pachanoi is not the only giant that the genus has to offer. Echinopsis lageniformis boasts up to 5 meters in height, closely followed by Echinopsis candicans and Echinopsis peruviana at an impressive 3 meters in height.

Plant Echinopsis

Plant Echinopsis in well-drained soil that provides the roots with a species-appropriate storage capacity for nutrients and water. The correct planting technique is primarily aimed at preventing waterlogging. A phase of acclimatization perfectly prepares your peasant cactus for the summer location. How to plant echinopsis correctly:

substrate

Echinopse love to stretch out their fine roots in a substrate with humic and mineral components. Over time you will develop your individual recipe. For your entry into the cactus collection, we recommend a tried and tested mixture:

• Cactus soil: 40 to 60 percent share
• Mineral additives: lava granules,(€14.00 at Amazon*)expanded clay, Akadama, perlite,(€29.00 at Amazon*)quartz sand,(€26.00 at Amazon*) bentonite

The result of this mixture is a structurally stable clay-humus complex for a well-balanced water and nutrient balance.

planting technique

Plant a peasant cactus in a pot with a hole in the bottom for drainage. The diameter of the planter should be two to three centimeters larger than the root ball. Proceed professionally in these steps:

1. Cover the bottom opening with a curved potsherd for drainage
2. Pour in the cactus soil mix halfway up the pot
3. Make a well in the substrate with a spoon or pricking stick
4. Pot and plant the peasant cactus
5. Push the substrate over the roots with the handle of a spoon or pricking stick until just below the plant body
6. Press down the soil and water with a fine spray

Echinopsis cacti are preferably poured with room-warm, soft water. Ideally, use a ball shower so that splashing water does not expose the root ball. Pour vigorously until the coaster fills. To prevent waterlogging, remove the accumulated water after 10 minutes.

Location

After planting, your hedgehog cactus goes through a regeneration phase. The green plant body has to get used to the blazing sun. To protect against sunburn, place Echinopsis in a pot in a semi-shady place for two weeks. Your peasant cactus is then ready for a warm, full sun on the south-facing window sill. From May to September, the cacti like to enjoy fresh air and the warmth of the sun on the balcony.

digression

Blossoms not only for night owls

Caring for Echinopsis – tips

One of the mainstays of Echinopsis care is a frost-free, cool-temperate hibernation. Year-round cultivation at room temperature is possible, but prevents the cacti from blooming again next year. Soft irrigation water, a well-measured dose of nutrients and repot at the right time also contribute to the summer blossom splendor. The best care tips in a nutshell:

• Pour: alternately pour (immerse) with rainwater and allow to dry thoroughly
• Fertilize: add liquid cactus fertilizer to the irrigation water every 2 weeks from March to August
• hibernate: bright and cool at 8° to 10° Celsius, water seldom, give no nutrients
• repot: at the end of hibernation, when the roots fill the pot or grow out of the hole in the ground

The lateral sprouts are suitable as cuttings for propagation. In early spring, cut off one or more side shoots with a sharp, sanitized knife. Dust the cut with activated charcoal powder and let each cutting dry for a few hours. Planted in a mix of cactus soil and coconut soil, echinopsis sprouts happily take root on the bright, warm window seat. the sowing of seeds is also an option.

Popular Varieties

The species in the table above and many of their conspecifics were the inspiration for the breeding of representative Echinopsis hybrids, such as the legendary Rheingold hybrids, noble Schick hybrids, distinctive Lobivia hybrids and exquisite Trichocereus hybrids with these breathtaking ones Sorts:

• Kriemhild Rheingold257: reddish-purple flowers, light red central stripe, 10 cm Ø, columnar, olive-green plant body
• Canary Wes323: bright yellow flowers, 10 cm long, 8 cm Ø, short thorns, olive green, columnar growth
• Crepe Crusader Schick807-2: Magenta-red, creamy-white striped flowers, 12 cm Ø, spherical plant body
• Fluffy Ruffles: peach-pink flowers, light yellow central stripe, 16 cm long, 10 cm Ø, dark green, cylindrical habit
• Greetings from Altenberg: pink-light violet flowers with a greenish-yellow throat, 15 cm Ø, lawn-green, spherical habit
• Love Story Rheingold230: salmon-red flowers with pink margins, white-pink throat, 9 cm Ø, columnar with extra long spines

FAQ

What does the botanical name for Echinopsis mean?

In choosing the scientific name, the botanists demonstrated verbal accuracy. Echinopsis is composed of the two Greek words echinos for hedgehog and opsis for appearance. The spherical, thorny silhouettes of the cacti could hardly be described more meaningfully.

How often are Echinopsis cacti watered?

How often you water Echinopsis cacti depends on location, time of year, size, and flowering time. Water small varieties in a sunny location every 7 days on average. Echinopsis hybrids with a plant body from 20 centimeters in height or diameter should be watered every two to three weeks. When farm cacti bloom, the need for watering increases. In this phase, please check every two to three days by finger testing whether the cactus soil has dried out. During the hibernation, water echinopses in sips according to the rule of thumb, the bigger, the less often.

Can you cut off the roots of Echinopsis?

Echinopsis form a root system of deep and shallow main roots with a dense structure of hairy and fine roots. You should only intervene in this complex structure with scissors in an emergency. Do you fall into dead, stunted roots when repotting? Eye, cut off the strands with sharp, sanitized scissors.

Can you root echinopsis sprouts in sand?

It is an insider tip among cactus friends. In fact, Echinopsis and other cacti do excellently root in sand, especially bird sand. Immediately after pruning, plant each wet pruned cutting one third of its height in sand. For the first week, leave the sprouts alone. From the second week, spray cuttings and sand with soft water every two to three days. From the third week on, water regularly. Within five weeks the cuttings will root and can be repotted in cactus soil.