Echinomastus in cultivation

ECHINOMASTUS IN CULTIVATION
The Cactus Explorer – Nov. 2011
An accompanying article about Echinomastus in Cultivation
Echinomastus johnsonii (Engelmann) E.M. Baxter 1935
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Synonyms: Echinocactus johnsonii Engelmann 1871,
Ferocactus johnsonii (Engelmann) Britton & Rose 1922,
Thelocactus johnsonii (Engelmann) W.T. Marshall 1942,
Neolloydia johnsonii (Engelmann) L. Benson 1969,
Sclerocactus johnsonii (Engelmann) N.P. Taylor 1987,
Pediocactus johnsonii (Engelmann) Halada 1998
Form/Habitat: The habitat of Echinomastus johnsonii is
North America, in the Mojave Desert of southeast
California and northwestern Arizona, from southern
Nevada and southern Utah. Grows in sandy/gravely soils in
hills and alluvial fans from 1500 to 4000 feet elevation. It’s
a small to medium solitary plant. Branching only occurs
from damage to the main growing point. This plant has a
globular to cylindrical shape with spines completely
obscuring the stem. Spines are a pink/rose to tan color that
fade to a dull grey or black with age.
Type locality: Discovered near St. George in Southern Utah
by J.E. Johnson in 1870.
Size: Typically growing to around 2 to 4 inches in diameter
and 4 to 10 inches tall. Starting out as globular and later
becoming more cylindrical to resemble the shape and size
of a pineapple.
Flowers/Fruit: The flowers of Echinomastus johnsonii are
about 2.5 inches in diameter and appear March thru May.
They are produced from new areoles at the apex of the
plant. Not always opening fully, due to the dense spination.
Flowers are a bright dark pink with a dark purple center.
The fruit are green and when ripe, turn a brown/tan color.
They will split open near the base and up the side to
release the seeds. Many times seedlings can be seen
growing at the base of the mother plant giving the
appearance of a cluster.
Cultivation: Seeds. Somewhat challenging to grow from
seed. These plants dislike any peat or organic matter in
their pot culture soil mix. Do not use a commercial cactus
soil or any type of potting soil. Only non-organic matter
consisting of sand, loam, grit, pumice or DG (decomposed
granite) would be best. We use a mix of sand, pumice and
DG and use a 5-7mm crushed granite top dressing to 3/81/2 inch deep. Diatomatous Earth products such as
Turface, NAPA motor oil absorbents and TESCO cat litter
can also be used.
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Echinomastus johnsonii can take full sun to get the proper
spination. Often in habitat these plants are growing out in
the open completely unprotected. Give these plants the
brightest spot in the greenhouse. We grow our seedlings in
a hothouse using clear plastic over 50% shadecloth. For
mature plants in cultivation, we grow them outdoors in full
sun or in a shadehouse behind 40% cloth. Watering should
mimic natural habitat as best as possible. Give light
watering in winter, especially during Jan/Feb, tapering off
in mid-March. From March to June keep fairly dry with just
occasional misting. Start again with light watering from
August to September and into the winter. Our winter
temps rarely get down very low and frost very rare. We
average about 40-45F.
Seedlings can be kept growing from February to late
August by being kept very warm to hot, maintaining a daily
average of 95-100F with nights down to 55-65F and
watered with fertilizer and low pH water every 3 to 4 days
for the first 3 years. From September to Jan watering can
taper off slowly to every 10 to 14 days if still kept at the 95100F daily average with nights down to 40-50F. We’ve
been growing several Echinomastus species this way with
great success. Keep in mind our climate in southwest USA
is very hot and arid and winters are very mild, adjustments
will need to be made in cooler climates.
Notes: We recognize three forms: E. johnsonii ssp. johnsonii has
pink flowers, E. johnsonii ssp. lutescens has yellow flowers. E.
johnsonii ssp. arizonicus can have both colors. They also all differ
in geographic distribution and flowering times.
Cultivation Key
Full Sun, lots of heat
Medium water in spring, none in summer, light water in
early winter
Sandy/gritty soil, non-organic only!
Decomposed Granite/Pumice/Gravel/Diatomatous Earth.
Hardy to 20F / -6C if dry.
Can tolerate short periods of cold temps. Avoid frost!
(General guidelines)
Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery
ECHINOMASTUS IN CULTIVATION
The Cactus Explorer – Nov. 2011
3 different collections of Echinomastus dasyacanthus
SB81
SB48
Echinomastus durangensis
SB46
SB1709
Echinomastus mariposensis
SB412
E. johnsonii ssp. lutescens seedlings.
Habitat seed collected near Wickenburg, Maricopa Co., AZ.
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Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery
ECHINOMASTUS IN CULTIVATION
E. erectocentrus ssp. acunensis
Habitat seed from Near Florence, AZ
The Cactus Explorer – Nov. 2011
Echinomastus erectocentrus
Habitat seed from Near Vail, AZ
Echinomastus johnsonii in habitat in bloom
Echinomastus johnsonii ssp. lutescens
Habitat photos from near Wickenburg, Maricopa Co., AZ. Photos by Peter Breslin
Echinomastus johnsonii
Habitat photos from near Meadview, Mohave Co., AZ. Photos by Peter Breslin
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Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery
ECHINOMASTUS IN CULTIVATION
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The Cactus Explorer – Nov. 2011
Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery