Echinopsis mamillosa var. kermesina

Scientific Name

Echinopsis mamillosa var. kermesina (Krainz) Friedrich

Synonyms

Echinopsis kermesina, Pseudolobivia kermesina

Scientific Classification

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis

Description

Echinopsis mamillosa var. kermesina has a solitary growth habit, with globe-shaped stems up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The stems are dark green, with a diameter of up to 3.1 inches (8 cm) across, and have 13–17 deep ribs, formed into tubercles. The rounded areoles are spaced up to 0.5 inch (1.2 cm) and produce yellowish spines with brown tips, the one to four central spines and the 8–12 radial spines. The flowers are pink to carmine in color. They are large in relation to the diameter of the stems, up to 3.1 inches (8 cm) across and up to 7 inches (18 cm) long.

Photo via takoyashiki.blog65.fc2.com

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 8b to 11b: from 15 °F (−9.4 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

If you can grow cacti and succulents successfully, you can likely grow the Echinopsis species without too much trouble. Like many cacti, they prefer a drying period between waterings, even to the point where they slightly wilt. When you water, however, you should water deeply. The plant will noticeably plump up. It’s imperative that the cactus is not exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, make sure to fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.

Echinopsis can be easily rooted from offsets, which tend to cluster around the base of the mother plant. Cut offsets close to the stem, at the narrowest possible place. When rooting cacti from cuttings, let the fresh cutting dry out slightly on a paper towel and cut the cacti at the narrowest place possible. After a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the cut surface, the cut surface should have dried out and formed a callous, or slightly rough opening. Once the callous has formed, place the cutting in a rooting mixture of fast-draining cacti soil… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Echinopsis