- The different flower colors of the Echinopsis species
- Known of the species of Echinopsis
- Propagate Echinopsis by cuttings
- A bright location is important
The Echinopsis is better known under the name peasant cactus. It is often referred to as the "false queen of the night" because it develops very large flowers. In contrast to the real queen of the night, these bloom longer and not only at night. There are numerous species of Echinopsis, which differ in growth form and flower colors.
The Echinopsis eyriesii inspires with its large, pink-white flowers
The different flower colors of the Echinopsis species
The range of flower colors of Echinopsis is huge. Almost all colors except black, green, brown and blue are represented.
Some of the flowers are very large and are often longer and wider than the cactus itself. The first flowers develop when the Echinopsis is three years old.
All Echinopsis species only bloom when the cactus can rest in winter with cool temperatures and little water. Some varieties branch heavily. Here you should cut off some shoots so that the cactus has enough strength for the formation of new flowers.
Known of the species of Echinopsis
| variety name | growth height | flower color | particularities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echinopsis adolfofriedrichii | up to 15 cm | White | blooms in the evening hours |
| Echinopsis eyriesii | up to 20 cm | pink-white | very long thorns |
| Echinopsis ferox | up to 30 cm | pink, white, yellow, red | long curved thorns |
| Echinopsis huascha | up to 100 cm | pink | heavily branched |
| Echinopsis chrysantha | up to 6 cm | yellow-orange | very small variety |
| Echinopsis schieliana | up to 5 cm | Red Yellow | forms cushions |
| Rheingold hybrids | up to 30 cm | white, pink, yellowish |
Propagate Echinopsis by cuttings
Echinopsis is very easy to propagate from cuttings. To do this, cut off side shoots in spring. The interfaces must dry for several days before being plugged into prepared pots.
The growing pots (€16.68) are placed in a bright, warm place, but not in direct sunlight. You can tell that the offshoot has taken root by the new shoots.
A bright location is important
All Echinopsis species need a very bright location. This also applies if you put Echinopsis outside in summer.
During the growth phase, the temperatures should be between 18 and 26 degrees. In winter, the not hardy Echinopsis needs a rest phase with temperatures around 10 degrees.
tips
Echinopsis hybrids are considered to be particularly robust varieties of this cactus species. They are cared for in the same way as other Echinopsis species.