GARDENING
Let’s Learn About Cactus
Cactus identification (day-2): Acanthocalycium (Echinopsis) thionanthum
Common Name: Acanthocalycium thionanthum
Scientific Name:Acanthocalycium (Echinopsis) thionanthum
Family: CACTACEAE
Bradleya 5: 92 (1987)
Type:Cactus/Succulent
Water: Dry
Soil PH:6.1–7.8
Flower Color: Red, pink, white, orange, or yellow
Special Characteristics: Container, showy flowers
Hardiness Zone(s):10–11
Height At Maturity:1–6"
Sun: Full Sun
Sub Type: Houseplant
Origin and Habitat:
Echinopsis thionantha has a wide range in Argentina in the provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta, and Tucumán. A new location was found in southern Argentina.
Altitude:
It occurs at elevations between 1500 and 3000 meters above sea level.
Habitat:
Grows in rocky soil on mountain slopes in monte shrubland and prepuna. The species is locally abundant. The only threat is the local collection for ornamental use.
Cultivation and Propagation:
Echinopsis thionantha is easy to grow succulent, colder tolerant than most, and less fussy regarding soil conditions.
Growth rate:
It is a fairly rapid growing and easily flowering species.
Soils:
It likes very porous soil or standard cactus-ready mix soil.
Propagation:
Direct sow after last frost. Seeds germinate approximately in 7–14 days at 21–27° C temperature in spring, remove deliberately the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1–2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!
