Echinocereus cinerascens
| Light | Bright light, including some direct sun; a touch of shade from the fiercest afternoon rays |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in the growing season, letting the mix dry between waterings; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; roughly USDA zones 9–11, though hardened plants tolerate a brief light frost when bone dry |
| Propagation | Offsets and stem cuttings (easy); also seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinocereus cinerascens is a freely clustering hedgehog cactus from central Mexico that builds up loose, sprawling mounds of soft-spined green stems. In late spring it is crowned with large, satiny magenta-pink flowers, making it one of the more generous and easy-going members of the genus for a keen grower.
Description
Echinocereus cinerascens is a clumping cactus whose cylindrical stems branch and offset freely from the base, in time forming loose colonies that can spread to 30 cm or more across. Individual stems are usually 10–30 cm long and a few centimetres thick, mid-green to slightly greyish, and carried in a somewhat lax, sprawling habit rather than a tidy upright column. The ribs, typically five to twelve, bear closely set areoles.
The spines are one of the plant's charms: relatively soft and often rather bristly, in shades of white, yellow and grey-brown, with a few longer centrals among shorter radials. They give the stems a slightly shaggy, unthreatening look compared with the fierce armament of some relatives.
Flowers appear in spring, opening wide from the upper areoles: large funnel-shaped blooms of glossy magenta to purplish-pink, often with a paler throat, 5–7 cm across and lasting several days. They are among the showiest features of the plant and are freely produced on established clumps.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central Mexico, where it grows across the arid highlands of states such as San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Hidalgo. It is typically found on rocky slopes, in scrub and among grasses, often scrambling over and between rocks where the sprawling stems find support and a little shelter. In these habitats it experiences hot, bright summers with seasonal rain and cool, dry winters.
Cultivation
Echinocereus cinerascens is an accommodating and rewarding plant, forgiving by the standards of the genus and a good choice for a grower moving beyond the easiest beginners' cacti. Give it a gritty, very free-draining mix and a pot with room for the clump to spread. It enjoys bright light and will take a good deal of direct sun, which keeps the growth compact and encourages flowering, though a little shade from the harshest afternoon sun does no harm.
Water moderately through the warm months once the mix has dried, then reduce watering sharply as autumn arrives. A cool, dry winter rest is important: it hardens the plant, helps prevent rot, and is the key to a good display of flowers the following spring. Kept dry, hardened plants shrug off cool conditions and a brief, light frost, but they should never be left cold and wet. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Because the plant clusters so freely, vegetative propagation is easy and the usual route. Detach an offset or take a stem cutting, let the cut surface dry and callus for several days, then set it on a barely moist gritty mix until roots form. See Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings for details. The species also grows readily from seed sown on a warm, mineral surface kept humid, as described in Propagation — seed.
Common problems
- Rot — the main risk, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix, especially over a cold winter; stems soften and discolour from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the stems thin, pale and even more lax than their naturally sprawling habit.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the spines and roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing and bronzed skin) are the usual offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echinocereus — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Propagation — seed