Echinocereus scheeri
| Light | Bright light with some protection from the fiercest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in spring and summer, letting the mix dry between waterings; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; hardy to roughly USDA zones 9–10 when dry |
| Propagation | Offsets and stem cuttings; also seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinocereus scheeri is a slender-stemmed hedgehog cactus from the Sierra Madre Occidental of northwestern Mexico, prized for its long, elegantly tubed flowers in shades of orange to pink. It forms clustering mounds of soft, finger-thick stems that lean and sprawl rather than stand rigidly upright, and in spring it produces some of the longest-tubed blooms in the genus Echinocereus. It is a variable species, and the plants long grown as Echinocereus salm-dyckianus are now generally treated as part of it.
Description
Echinocereus scheeri forms clumps of slim, cylindrical stems, typically only a couple of centimetres thick but reaching a good span in length, so that older plants tend to sprawl and branch from the base. The stems carry several low ribs lined with small areoles, and the spination is modest — short, fine radial spines with one or a few slightly longer centrals, often pale and pressed close to the stem so the green body shows through.
The flowers are the species' great attraction. They open along the upper stems in spring, each with a conspicuously long, slender floral tube — much longer than is usual for the genus — flaring into a funnel of glossy petals in warm orange, salmon and pink tones. Individual blooms last several days, and a well-grown clump can carry many at once.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico, particularly in the states of Chihuahua, Sonora and Durango. It grows at moderate to fairly high elevations in pine–oak woodland and rocky canyon country, often rooting in crevices, on cliff ledges or among leaf litter where its trailing stems can hang from rock faces. This montane origin means it experiences more summer moisture and cooler nights than many desert cacti.
Cultivation
Echinocereus scheeri is an accommodating and free-flowering plant that rewards a little extra water in the growing season compared with tougher desert species. Grow it in a fast-draining but not purely mineral mix, in bright light with some shade from the harshest afternoon sun. Because the stems sprawl, many growers appreciate it in a wide or slightly raised pot, or even a hanging container, where the trailing habit and long flowers can be shown off. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Water regularly through spring and summer, letting the surface dry between drinks, then reduce sharply in autumn. A dry, cool winter rest is important: it both protects the soft stems from rot and sets up the following season's flowering. Given its mountain habitat the species tolerates cold well when kept dry, but wet cold is dangerous.
Propagation
The clustering habit makes vegetative propagation easy. Detached offsets or lengths of stem can be taken in the warm months, allowed to callus for a few days, then rooted in a gritty mix kept barely moist — see Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings. The species also grows readily from seed sown warm on a mineral surface; see Propagation — seed.
Common problems
- Rot — the soft, slender stems are prone to rotting if kept wet and cold, or in a mix that drains slowly; reduce watering in winter.
- Etiolation — too little light produces weak, over-long, pale stems and poor flowering.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the stems) and red spider mites are the usual offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echinocereus — the genus overview
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering