Echinocereus knippelianus
| Light | Bright light with some protection from the harshest summer sun; a cool, bright winter |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in growth; keep completely dry through a cold winter rest |
| Soil | Very free-draining, mostly mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Cold-hardy when bone dry; tolerates hard frost in a dry winter rest |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally from offsets on clustering plants |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinocereus knippelianus is an atypical, soft-bodied, nearly spineless hedgehog cactus from the high mountains of northeastern Mexico, prized by specialist collectors for its unusual looks and its willingness to flower young. Its dark green, almost fleshy body sits low to the ground and carries only a scattering of weak, bristly spines, so it looks more like a small succulent rosette than a typical spiny Echinocereus.
Description
Echinocereus knippelianus forms a low, rounded to flattened body, usually solitary but sometimes clustering into small groups with age. The body is a deep, glossy green — sometimes flushed purplish in strong light or cold — and noticeably softer and more yielding to the touch than most cacti. It is divided into a small number of broad, low ribs, typically around five, sometimes more, separated by shallow grooves.
Unlike its heavily armed relatives, this species is nearly spineless: the areoles bear only a few thin, flexible, often yellowish bristles that give little protection and are easily overlooked. The plant has a substantial tuberous root, and in habitat it pulls down into the ground during drought and cold, so that little more than the top shows at the surface.
Flowers appear from near the crown in spring, opening in shades of pink to magenta, sometimes paler toward the centre. They are relatively large for the size of the plant, and free-flowering even on young specimens, which is a large part of the species' appeal.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to northeastern Mexico, where it grows at high elevation in the mountains of the states of Nuevo León and Coahuila. It occurs in cool, montane grassland and among rocks, often growing down among grasses, mosses and leaf litter rather than in open desert.
These are high, continental sites with cold winters and a distinct summer growing season driven by seasonal rains. The plants experience genuine frost in the wild, and it is the combination of cold and complete dryness in winter that they tolerate — not cold and wet.
Cultivation
Echinocereus knippelianus is a rewarding plant for the collector who respects its mountain origins. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix with room for its tuberous root, in bright light with a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun to keep the body from scorching. Give it a good depth of pot so the root can develop.
Water moderately through the warm growing season, always letting the mix dry out well between waterings, then keep the plant completely dry through a cold winter rest. Kept dry, it is considerably more cold-tolerant than most collection cacti and will take hard frost; the danger is always moisture at the roots in cold weather, which quickly leads to rot in this soft-bodied species. A cold, bright, dry winter also encourages good flowering. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual method. Sown on a warm, gritty surface and kept humid, the seed germinates fairly readily, and seedlings will often flower within a few years. Plants that have clustered can also be divided, and rooted offsets taken, though the species is grown far more often from seed than vegetatively. See Propagation — seed and, for clustering plants, Propagation — offsets.
Common problems
- Rot — by far the main risk; a soft body plus a slow-draining mix or winter moisture leads to collapse from the root or base. Keep it dry and cold rather than damp and cold in winter.
- Scorch — the dark, soft body can mark or brown under sudden intense sun, especially after a dull spell; increase light gradually.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and on the roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual offenders. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echinocereus — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases