Scientific Name
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi 'Cucumis'
Synonym(s)
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi f. cucumis, Echinocereus cucumis
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Echinocereus
Origin
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi 'Cucumis' is a spineless cultivar of Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi.
Description
Echinocereus scheeri subsp. gentryi 'Cucumis' is a cactus with spineless cucumber-like stems with 4 to 5 ribs. The old plants may have up to 20 stems that can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) long.
The flowers are pale purplish-pink, often nearly white inside. They are trumpet-shaped, appear in spring, and can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) long. The bright green fruits can grow up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
If you can grow other globular cacti successfully, you can most likely grow Echinocereus well. One of the key factors in success with these is avoiding any hint of wet soil. Because their root systems are weak, they are especially prone to root rot, eventually killing your plant. Otherwise, they thrive on a program of intense bright light, slight water, and a steady diet of light fertilizer. These cacti are vulnerable to mealybugs and aphids.
Echinocereus are slow-growing cacti that should only need repotting every other year or so. You can prolong the time to repotting by removing plantlets and potting them up in their pots. When repotting a cactus, carefully remove it from its pot and knock away any clumped soil. These plants tend to be shallow-rooted with weak root systems, so they do not damage their roots.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echinocereus.
Links
- Back to genus Echinocereus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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