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Echinopsis sp. forma cristata CLONE A (Green)
This plant forms very nice tangled crests that
can reach 30cm with age.
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Description: The hybrids of
Echinopsis (commonly known as Easter Lily Cactus )
are very popular and widely grown for their easy cultivation and for the
showy flowers, but the beautiful crested forms are still rare in cactus
collection. There are lots of different hybrids in cultivation, which
are not easy to recognize if not in flower. The standard
Echinopsis are spherical to cylindrical spiny cactus with many
branches that can form large mound up to 50 cm (or more) in diameter.
The beautiful crested form,
here described (Clone A
green form) , is rare in collection and priced
for its compact growing green fan-like
stem.
Stem: Fat, it can form in age a large convoluted mound
and can reach a considerable size (up to 50 cm tall and in diameter, or
more )
Areoles:
Small, roundish, whitish-grey.
Spines: It has many short
bristly pale
greyish-brown
spines all quite similar in shape,
that
partially cover the surface of the stems.
Flowers: This clone usually do not produces flowers.
Here a short list of clones:
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific name:
Echinopsis sp. forma criatata
Origin:
Garden origin (Nursery
produced cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common English Names include: Crested Easter Lily Cactus.
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Cultivation:
This plant does well under
cultivation, though quite slow
growing, but it can be much faster when grafted or sustained with
proper watering and fertilizing.
Plants grown on their own roots need a very well-drained soil mix (more
so than many other cacti) and moderate to abundant water in summer,
almost none in winter, as they are rot prone particularly when weather
is wet and cold.
But it's important to
avoid wetting
the bodies of these plants while they are in sunlight. A wet cactus in
the sun light can cause sun burning, which can lead to scars, or even
fungal infections and death. They require lots of bright sunlight
(full sun or half-sun), which
encourages growth of the spines.
The grafted plants are very easy to grow and will form a large white
brain-like mounds with age. Watering during the active growing season
(spring and summer); this will encourage steady growth, and prevent the
plant from shrivelling. It should be kept in a cool place
during winter rest (it can
briefly tolerate temp. as low as -7°C). Stems
may possibly become purple and limp in winter, but revitalize in early
spring. Any normal shoots should be removed to promote the
growth of the crest.
Propagation: Grafting, It can also be increased by cuttings, which will take root in a
minimum temperature of 20° C. Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in
the spring and summer, Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave
the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how
thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the
callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with
firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit.
They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end
from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost
underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks.
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