This is a magnificent indoor plant, quite easy to plant and take care of. Keep reading this article and see the best tips on how to grow indoor Echinocereus cactus.
Echinocereus cactus originates from the western states of the USA and Mexico. The conditions of the soil are quite arid and the daytime temperatures are high. Thus, these are some factors that will be considered in this article.
Echinocereus cactus tends to be quite short with cylindrical stems that occasionally also have branches. Moreover, the cacti have large and appealing flowers that are usually purple, pale pink or red. Thus, this plant and its variations might be an excellent piece of collection for your apartment.
The perfect indoor temperature for Echinocereus cactus
Mexico’s desert can become very cold during the winter nights. The temperature also drops below zero without injuring the plants. Thus, the soil gets very dry.
When you grow this type of cacti at home, it is best to avoid any frost because you can lose it.
During winter, the temperature can be up to 2°C without any damage as long as the land is dry.
For the summer, it is best to keep the plants out on the balcony because the temperature can reach over 30°C without harming the plant.
The best type of pot for Echinocereus cactus
Echinocereus cacti should be grown in a terracotta pot. This type of pot should have at least one drainage hole at the base and should not be enameled. This way, the pot allows good drainage and allows the soil (and the roots) to breathe comfortably.
The proper light and watering for Echinocereus cactus
This cactus should be kept almost completely dry during the winter months. Since March, the cactus will begin to grow and the amount of water will be increased gradually until the end of May when the plant should be full grown and hopefully blooming.
Thus, it is recommended that you grow Echinocereus cactus in full sunlight during summer and winter.
Fertilization of the Echinocereus cactus
If the land is fresh, you might not need a fertilizer. Also, remember that you should not fertilize the cactus starting September because this can cause excessive growth that can be fatal in the cooler and darker months.
Transplantation of the Echinocereus cactus
Cactus transplantation should be done every second or third year, not annually.
This can be done by removing the plant from the pot. Then, you should wrap the stems with newspaper if they are very spiny.
Remove it carefully and take out the old soil to examine the roots. If some of the roots are destroyed or show signs of rotting, they should be removed as close as possible to the plant.
Re-transplant the cactus using the same soil that was at first in the pot (fresh) and use a pot just a little wider than the previous one.