Echinopsis calochlora
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in the growing season once the mix has dried; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral-rich mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Offsets (easiest) and seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinopsis calochlora is a small, clustering, bright-green globular cactus from central-western Brazil and adjacent lowland eastern Bolivia, prized for the ease with which it flowers. Its vivid green stems offset freely to form neat clumps, and in summer each head can produce large, funnel-shaped white flowers that open at night. Free-flowering and forgiving, it is a fine beginner's cactus and a classic member of the genus Echinopsis.
Description
Echinopsis calochlora forms a small, more or less spherical stem, usually only a few centimetres across, that clusters readily from the base to build a low mound of bright, fresh-green heads. The body is divided into numerous well-defined ribs bearing evenly spaced areoles. Short, stiff spines radiate from each areole — modest by cactus standards — so the overall impression is of a tidy green globe rather than a fiercely armed one.
The flowers are the main event: large and funnel-shaped, white, and carried on a slender woolly tube that lifts them clear of the body. They open in the evening and through the night, releasing a soft fragrance, and typically last a day or so before fading. A healthy clump can throw several flushes of bloom across the warm months.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to central-western Brazil, in the region around Corumbá in Mato Grosso do Sul, and to adjacent lowland eastern Bolivia, where it grows among rocks and in gritty, well-drained ground at low elevations. Like many Brazilian globular cacti it favours spots with sharp drainage and seasonal rainfall — warm, wetter summers followed by a drier, cooler rest.
Cultivation
Echinopsis calochlora is one of the more obliging cacti to grow and flower. Give it a very free-draining, mineral-rich mix and bright light with a little protection from the most intense afternoon sun; strong light keeps the growth compact and encourages the plant to bloom. Water thoroughly during the growing season once the mix has dried out, then let it dry again before the next drink. See Watering for general technique.
Through winter, keep the plant cool and quite dry — a proper dry, cool rest is the key to a good show of flowers the following summer, and it also guards against rot. As a naturally clumping species it will fill its pot in time, so lift and divide or pot on as needed; see Repotting.
Propagation
The easiest route is by offsets: the freely produced pups can be twisted or cut away, left to callus for a few days, and then set on a dry, gritty mix to root. The species also grows readily from seed sown on a warm, humid mineral surface, which is the way to raise larger numbers of plants.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a mix that holds too much moisture, especially over a cool winter.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the normally squat heads stretch and pale, losing their compact form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the offsets) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the common offenders; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echinopsis — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting
- Propagation — offsets · Propagation — seed