Synonyms:

• Cereus pulchellus
• Echinocereus pulchellus
• Echinonyctanthus pulchellus
• Echinocereus aguirrei
• Echinopsis pulchella

Habitat:

-It is widespread in northern Oaxaca, Puebla, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, and Queretaro (Mexico).

Description:

-Echinocactus pulchellus is a tiny, flat cactus. Its stems are little (2-4 cm in diameter), spherical, with short tubercles arranged in ribs. It has clusters of 3-7 spines. It produces flowers at the top of stems.

Cultivation:

-It is an easy but slow plant to grow. Use very porous standard cactus mix soil. Its tap root needs a deep pot to grow in, with good drainage. Avoid overwaterings, this plant is very rot sensitive! Keep dry in winter. Minimum temperature is 5°C (but can tolerate brief periods above -5°C). It needs full sun exposure to light shade: direct sun for too long expose the plant to sunburn, but bright light encourages flowering.

Propagation:

-Propagate by seeds or cuttings.

Curiosity:

-This is a geophyte cactus: in the wild this plant tend to disappear completely in the ground during dry periods!