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. 1 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. 2 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 3 Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery ECHINOMASTUS IN CULTIVATION 4 The Cactus Explorer – Nov. 2011 Darryl Craig – CoronaCactus Nursery
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