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Echinopsis sp. forma
cristata CLONE B (Mauve)
This plant forms
dark coppery-purple crests and nice pink flowers.
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A plant grown in shadow |
the same plant with some sun. |
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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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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
B mauve form), is rare in
collection and priced for its large growing size and dark mauve-green
fan-like stem.
Stem: Fat, strong green, bronze green or dark mauve-green depending
on sun exposure. 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 very short greyish-brown
spines all quite similar in shape.
Flowers: This clone produces nice pink blooms up to 15 cm long
and 7-8 cm in diameter.
Here a short list of clones:
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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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