Echinocactus grusonii is native to Central Mexico. This cactus is found in the valley of the river Moktesuma, in the vicinity of the dam Simapan near the city of Mesa de Leon, in the state of Queretaro, as well as in San Rafael de Las Tablas, in the state of Zacatecas at altitudes from 1400 m to 1900 m above sea level...
Echinocactus grusonii also called as Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball cactus, Mother-in-law's-seat, Mother-in-law's-cushion, is a species of the genus Echinocactus. This species was described by Heinrich Hildmann in 1891.
IDENTIFY ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII
Echinocactus grusonii is native to Central Mexico. This cactus is found in the valley of the river Moktesuma, in the vicinity of the dam Simapan near the city of Mesa de Leon, in the state of Queretaro, as well as in San Rafael de Las Tablas, in the state of Zacatecas at altitudes from 1400 m to 1900 m above sea level. In Queretaro, they grows on steep slopes on soils of volcanic origin, and in Zacatecas it can be found in semi-deserts on volcanic or calcareous soils. Due to massive illegal collection, the number of these cactus in nature decreases.
It is a single, slowly growing spherical cactus that grows barrel-shaped with age, reaching 180 cm in height and 90 cm in diameter, with light green, strongly ribbed stem, have more than 30 ribs, with numerous desolate areoles, 8-10 golden yellow, up to 3 cm long radial spines.
Golden barrel cactus blooms at the end of spring and summer if they are growing in full sun and getting enough light. The flowers are bright yellow, 4-5 cm in diameter, form the original ring on the top of the cactus.
There are quite a few varieties and forms of Echinocactus grusonii: Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus (with white thorns, which when grown in bright sun acquire bronze "tanning" in the course of time, in original contrast with new thorns), Echinocactus grusonii f. setispinus (with very thin needle spines that grow longer as the cactus grows), Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis (very short spines, in all other respects it is identical), Echinocactus grusonii var. intermedius (the powerful spines are shorter, but they are longer than in Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis), Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus (has very beautiful yellowish-white smooth curved spines 2-6 cm in length), Echinocactus grusonii f. cristata (has long golden-yellow thorns, its crystalline form in the collections of cactus is rare), Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus f. cristata (the crystalline form of Echinocactus grusonii var. albispinus is very rare in collections), Echinocactus grusonii var. intertextus f. cristata (a crystalline form with characteristic curved very unusual spines), Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor cristata (a very beautiful crass is a fairly rare form of cactus, which is appreciated for its small size and soft spikes), Echinocactus grusonii f. monstruosa (growing in arbitrary directions a small cactus with a yellowish-white pubescence and short yellow thorns), Echinocactus grusonii f. monstruosa cristata (very rare crista-monstrose form with short yellow thorns, covered with white pubescence), Echinocactus grusonii var. setispinus f. minor mostruosa cristata cv. Scarascia (this monstrose form is usually planted on powerful columnar cactus), Echinocactus grusonii var. intermedius f. variegate (in the motley form there are areas, painted in yellow, which contrast beautifully with the normal green epidermis), Echinocactus grusonii var. subinermis f. cristata (this crystalline form of cactus is characterized by very short spines).
ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Temperature:
In summer, the optimal temperature in the daytime should not be below 20-22 ° C, and at night 10-12 ° C. Such conditions can be created if you keep the Echinocactus grusonii in the summer on the balcony.
Light:
This species can be placed outdoors in summer, they needs bright light, full of sun or partial shade if the place where it stands is very sunny and hot.
Indoors cactus needs bright light and direct sunlight. They can tolerate a moderate shadow. If they grew in the shade, then to the full sun it should be accustomed gradually, because with a sharp movement from the shade to the sun, the plant will strongly burn.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Echinocactus grusonii fits any fertile, well drained soil, for example, a mixture of clay, pumice and sand of volcanic origin with the addition of a small amount of peat and sheet humus. If the roots of Echinocactus becomes closely in the pot, then it is desirable to repot the plant in the spring. Repotting is done usually every two years by replacing the soil with fresh new substrate.
It is not necessary to use a larger pot when repotting. About a quarter of the pot should be filled with broken pots, gravel and other similar components to ensure good drainage. After the repot, the plant should not be watered for a week or longer.
Watering:
During the active summer growth, Echinocactus grusonii needs regularly watering. This plant needs a lot of water, but it can not be soaked, the soil must dry between waterings. When watering, you need to ensure that water drops do not fall on the body of the cactus at a time when the sun is shining on it. This can lead to a burn and even cause fungal infections and death of the plant.
Fertilizer:
This species need to feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Rest period:
In winter, Echinocactus grusonii should be kept in fairly dry conditions at a temperature of 10-12 ° C. From lower temperatures, they should be protected, although the plant can tolerate short-term light frosts.
Grow from seeds:
Cactus seedlings are very fragile on the first weeks and survival depends on how they are treated on that crucial stage; out of 100 of seeds in the wild only a few survive to an adult plant to produce seeds and start the cycle again. Obtaining a high percentage of adult plants from a batch of seedlings, depends on how each collector takes care of their seedlings.
Water for seedlings is the most important item to keep them growing for first few weeks. Generally, most seedlings, which are 1 week old will die after 3 days of dryness. 2 month-old seedlings can survive for 1 week if allowed to dry. 6 months-old seedlings can survive for 2 months if allowed to dry. 1 year-old seedlings can survive for 5 months if allowed to dry.
Planting instructions for 4”pot kit: First, clean with water and chlorine plastic pot, clear cover and label and wash with fresh water. Second, the soil can be sterilized for 2 hours at 120º C in an oven or a microwave but can be used without sterilization. Third, fill the pot with soil and spray with distilled, reverse osmosis or pure rainwater to let soil flatten at the top. Fourth, place to 1/8 to 1/4 inch layer of Dyna Rock or crushed sea shell extra fine on top to cover the soil making a layer between soil and seeds. Fifth, place seeds over the Dyna Rock and fine spray water the seeds well and cover with a clearcover.
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