Escobaria is a genus that belongs to the Cactaceae family and includes about 25 species native to the desert areas of the Atlantic and the North American continent (Canada and the southeastern United States, Mexico). The specimens of Escobaria minima and Escobaria sneedii have become very rare in nature and are legally protected species. Escobaria minima grows naturally only in a very narrow zone in Brewster County, Texas, on a specific substrate of novaculite.
Escobarias are small in size, globular or cylindrical, and grow in clusters. Flowers appear in late spring or early summer and vary in colors depending on the species, from purple, pink, red, green, to yellow.
Growing Conditions
Light: Escobarias love to be in a very bright exposure, but generally not in direct sunlight. The risk is to get sunburned, especially in summer during the hottest hours of the day.
Soil: The soil needs to be well-drained, porous, and aerated. Despite being small, these plants develop a branched root system with extremely thin and fragile tubercles.
Temperature: The average winter minimum temperature, in general, should be between 42 to 46 °F (6 to 8 °C). Adult plants can withstand some frost, but only if the temperatures rise quickly.
General Care
Escobarias are very susceptible to rot and therefore require well-drained soil. Avoid watering during the winter, when the plants are dormant. Watering Escobaria in cold environmental conditions will almost certainly lead to the death of the plant. In the growing season, the plants, whose growth is typically quite slow, perceive a significant temperature difference between night and day.
Propagation
The seed germination rate is lower than other genera, and in fact, other propagation methods are preferable, such as using offsets or cuttings.
Source: seedscactus.com
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