Gift- Echinocereus Coccineus Cactus

This cactus will be given with a pot, 8 Yellow onyx pebbles and white stone chip (As shown in the image).

Spines of this cactus are very small but very dense (Approx. 4-7 mm). It produces various pups all over its body. These pups increase their size very fast. After a period time the entire pot may be covered with cactus. Such clump of cactus looks awesome. Each pup (or side branch) is capable to give birth to a new cactus plant. This plant does not need special care and can be kept on windows or at such places where sufficient sunlight is available.

The plant will be sent potted in good quality potting mix which is highly suitable for this cactus. During winter, this plant may be in dormancy. After winter during spring or summer season, a matured cactus plant may bloom its yellow coloured beautiful flowers. This is almost maintenance free plant. Even if you do not water it for two weeks, it can survive. For 2-3 days in a week, you can keep indoor also. But try to keep this maximum sunlight for its better growth.

This cactus can be adorned with decorative stones/pebbles or stone chips on the upper surface of potted soil (as per the individual choice of plant lovers). Sufficient amount of white stones chips will be sent free to cover upper soil of the plant. Most of the plant lovers like to keep this rare variety of cactus in their collection. Approximate diameter of this cactus will be 4-5 cm. Some images with measurement scale and Rs.10 coin have been shown.

Watering & Sunlight: Like any other cactus, this also does not need frequent watering. However, this plant can survive without water for a longer time. The plant loves to grow in direct sunlight, but it can be grown with 6 hours sunlight also. Watering of plant should be only after drying of upper surface of soil. During winter, plant must not be over-watered, otherwise plant roots may rot. Reduce the frequency of watering in winter.

Soil:    A matured plant grown in lawn on open ground can withstand without water for 2-3 weeks. Moreover such plant does not require frequent fertilisers, because well grown and fully expanded roots can absorb needful nutrients from soil. However if the plant is in pot, it may not receive required nutrients fully due to limited expansion of roots within pot. Therefore, we need to fertilise a potted plant more often than a plant grown in open ground or soil. Fast drainage in potting mix is must.

To make the ideal potting mix, 50 % drainage media (coarse river sand/ crushed Leca/ – use any of them) in potting mix should be available.  All these items help in aeration also. We should also add 10 % garden soil, 10% Pumice Stones, 15% vermi -compost, 5% Neem Cake and 10% cocopeat. We should prepare the potting mix in such way so that water should reach bottom of pot within 15-20 seconds. This is the basic quality of fast draining soil.