How to Grow Hedgehog Cactus from Seed

Written by Anwar Hossain in Hedgehog cactus
How to Grow Hedgehog Cactus from Seed

First, we need to get the seeds out and place them in a pot along with a substrate allowing the water to drain and make it loose enough.

You can use a substrate you have from another plant or use your standard potting soil.

The first stage is the formation of the seed. The process of germination can be done in two ways, this is usually done with cacti, the mother plant produces seeds that are almost always viable.

This stage is usually done in a very dark and dry environment to stimulate the germination of seeds.

In this first stage, it should be placed in the shade, and be careful not to water excessively, optimal germination will show a small plant after a week, and after about 10 to 15 cm cactus.

The hedgehog cactus is also available as a seedling of a larger plant; this is a seedling. We plant it in a container with the appropriate substrate and water it as much as is required; this will provide the roots needed for the development of a new cactus.

As you can see, hedgehog cacti, like other members of the same family, are very easy to care for and make an excellent ornamental choice for our terrace or garden. If you have a plant in a pot, we advise repotting it every two years and providing it with particular soil for this kind of species.

El hedgehog cactus , is a cactus whose unusual size and shape mimics a barrel or a large ball , being for this reason one of the most popular of its kind, the hedgehog cactus works as an ornamental element , is a native of Mexico and can live up to 100 years.

It is also known as the ” place of mother-in-law ” Or ” Golden Ball ” and its name in botany is ” Echinocactus grusonii “.

Growing Cactus at Home.

The hedgehog cactus is a beautiful and unpretentious plant that has recently become quite popular in Russia. This is mainly due to the fact that it can be grown almost in any condition, which makes it an ideal option for those who are not satisfied with the quality of their living space. The hedgehog cactus is also very easy to care for, providing the owner with many years of service.

Hedgehog cacti have been used as a decorative element in interior design for many centuries. Many people buy and grow the plant for safety reasons. It is believed that the hedgehog cactus absorbs electromagnetic radiation, protecting the health of computer scientists and hackers. Whether this is really so, everyone decides for himself.

At the same time, no one will dispute the fact that a green friend is a great option for decorating a house. The plant does not require special attention, does not damage the internal space of your home, but can effectively absorb harmful radiation on your desk or table.

Capacity and Substrate for Growing Cactus

Practical are plastic or clay pots of square or rectangular shape. These dimensions allow you to grow several crops at the same time.

It is recommended to lay out high-quality drainage at the bottom of the tank: river pebbles or coarse sand with pebbles. Laying out is carried out in 2 layers: the first – on the bottom of the tank, the second – in the upper part of the soil.

Growing Cactus from Seeds

If you are a lover of cacti, you will be interested in breeding them. The spring period is the best time for reproduction and this process is not as simple as it might seem. Below I will describe the ideal conditions for cactus breeding and the details of its implementation.

The main thing that should be taken into account is a place where they can develop and grow to maturity. It is best to choose a large open space, because it will take several years before the plant grows to full size and develops its own root system. The location should be well-ventilated, with sufficient light and moisture.

In addition to these conditions, it is necessary to control the temperature at which the cactus grows. It should not exceed + 35 degrees during the day and + 25 at night. If you have such climatic conditions in your place, then everything will go on as planned.

  • seeds fall into weak potassium permanganate for 10 hours;
  • a pre-prepared container is filled with drainage, a 5 cm layer of cactus substrate is laid out ;
  • the earth is poured with warm water, the water remaining in the lower part of the tank is drained;
  • laying out the seeds is carried out in shallow recesses at a distance of 2 cm from each other, it is not necessary to fill them with a substrate;
  • the container is closed with a film, placed on the windowsill.

Important! The cactus is grown in a bright room at a temperature of +25 degrees Celsius. Direct UV rays are prohibited.

Cactus Care Tips

The following tips should be followed for the successful cultivation of plants from seed:

  1. Sow seeds in a clean container, preferably one made from peat.
  2. Seeds should be sown at the depth recommended on the package, and any seedlings planted directly in the garden should be planted at the same depth as they were originally growing.
  3. Soil should be kept consistently moist until germination is complete, and then it should be gradually allowed to dry out as the plant grows larger. Watering can be done using a spray bottle with a fine mist nozzle or by simply pouring water into each individual planting hole, which allows you to water a large number of different plants at once.
  4. The ideal way to moisten the soil is to water the seeds with a spray bottle or pipette (the water should be boiling and warm); the soil should be just barely moist.
  5. The container should be relocated to a cooler location at night, with temperature readings in the range of 13–18 degrees, as the ideal temperature for cactus growth is 23–25 degrees Celsius;
  6. Lighting can be daylight or sunny – the main thing is that there is as much light as possible and there are no direct UV rays.

Young shoots need to have their tops dressed. Small amounts of it are done. The greatest topping is one that contains a lot of K, P, and calcium while having little to no N. One feeding every 1.5 to 2 weeks is the feeding frequency.

After three months, sprouts are transferred into plastic cups with a volume of 0.5 liters. The cactus should become accustomed to being watered like an adult plant during its first year of growth. Do not neglect to feed. In September, it takes place. The cactus then enters its dormant period. Once again, you do not need to disturb the plant!

Varieties of Hedgehog Cactus

Among collectors, there are some species of hedgehog cacti that are cultivated for their interesting shapes and flowers:

  • Equinocereus triglochidiatus –The glorious flower color of the ”Hedgehog Cactus” rivals that of the desert sunset. The flowers are a beautiful deep red, with many petals that form the shape of a cup. They bloom from April through June and are the first to bloom in the desert.
  • Strawberry Hedgehog Cacti – Like most echinocerei, the strawberry hedgehog cactus forms large, rounded clusters, with stems rather taller than other varieties (up to 12 inches), covered by longer and more densely spaced spines. There are 2 to 4 central spines (up to 3 inches long) and 7 to 14 shorter radials, all usually white to light brown in color.
  • Echinocereus viridiflorus – Echinocereus viridiflorus is a small cactus with spherical or cylindrical stems that grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) and up to 3.6 inches (9 cm) in diameter. Flowers are up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and have tepals in shades of yellow, brown, green, or occasionally red, with darker reddish mid stripes.
  • Fendler’s hedgehog: Has shorter spines than most other echinocereus species, and its stems are quite compact (at most 6 inches tall), reflecting its higher elevation range; in Arizona it grows in places above 4,000 feet, in the eastern part of the state, from prairies to mountain slopes above 6,500 feet.

Types of Hedgehog Cacti

Some types of hedgehog cacti exist in a number of variants, and others (notably Echinocereus coccineus) look very different in parts of their range such as:

Shapes

  • Hedgehog cactus often have a soft body, several stems, and are cylindrical in shape. The spinal column’s carrying tubercles are joined together to produce ribs. The huge flowers are frequently red and yellow in color and typically feature green stigma lobes.
  • The northernmost group, Echinocereus viridiflorus, has tiny green to brown flowers and can be found from Mexico to Wyoming and South Dakota. The claret cup (E. triglochidiatus) inhabits the region north of Mexico City all the way down to southern Colorado and northern Utah.

Size

This cactus grows in groups of three to 60 stems per group. Each light green stem grows up to 12 inches tall. As more and more stems grow, the clump can spread to 3 feet wide. The stems are cylindrical bodies with 11 to 14 ribs.

Along the ribs, areoles, unique cacti regions where spines grow, form. 8 to 20 razor-sharp, up to 3-inch-long spines are produced by each areole. Hedgehog cacti often develop an almost solid covering of these sharp spines.

Colors

  • Hedgehog cactus spines are brown in color and about 2 to 3 inches long.
  • Reddish-orange fruit develops once flowering is complete. The fruit is spherical to ovoid and about 1 inch long. It has a fleshy white pulp tinged with reddish-orange skin color.
  • The fruit is covered in deciduous spines that fall off when the fruit reaches maturity. The hedgehog cactus is also called the strawberry hedgehog cactus because of the strawberry flavor of its fruit. Both birds and rodents eat the fruit.

Flowers

  • The majority of hedgehog cactus have edible fruit, and all have vibrant flowers. Between February and May, the flowers bloom after the spring rains. Hedgehog cacti typically have flowers that are a deep magenta color, although they can also have flowers that are pink, purple, or lavender in hue.
  • The five-day-long blooms open in the morning and close at night. When compared to the size of the stems, the flowers of hedgehog cacti can be up to 3 inches across.
  • Depending on the species, hedgehog cactus flowers are typically dark red, reddish-violet, pink, or fuchsia. The blooms bloom from April to June and have a cup-like shape. The flowers on the red hedgehog cactus are unique from those on other cactus species in that they remain open all night.

Properties and benefits of hedgehog cacti

  • The hedgehog cactus has a wide range of uses and advantages. Even when we are aware of the plant’s purposes, we still need to know which parts of the plant are edible. They could be stalks, seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, or even roots. It’s possible for a plant to have edible and hazardous parts in different combinations. As a result, you need to be aware of which plant component is employed for what purpose. Flowers and fruits from the hedgehog cactus are used.
  • There are some extra functions of the plant, in addition to the advantages of beauty and aesthetics, which may be helpful to learn about and increase its usefulness. This plant also has the following uses: used as a decorative plant.
  • Beauty Benefits: Not Available
  • Plants are essential to human life. They serve as a significant direct or indirect source of food for both people and animals. Many plants are employed as medicines. All living organisms use the air we breathe to breathe, and plants use it to collect carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Therefore, understanding how plants are used is crucial.

food uses

  • Although the fruit of the hedgehog cactus, also known as nopales, has been a mainstay of the Mexican cuisine for hundreds of years, it has only just become the newest food craze.
  • Although it is typically served cooked, the fruit can also be relished raw; its flavor is comparable to that of a sour green bean. It is the ideal complement to any stew, egg dish, or Mexican salad after the bones and other parts have been taken out.
  • Its popularity is growing due to its versatility. Cacti can be incorporated into a variety of foods, from jams, candies, teas to alcoholic cocktails.

Medical uses

Plants were the primary source of medication utilized for practically all forms of health problems in the distant past before allopathy became a recognized branch of medicine. Many doctors still use this ancient herbal knowledge to treat patients’ health issues.

Plants are natural chemical factories. Many ornamental plants, such as the rose, have been associated with medical benefits in human history. For example, it has been suggested that drinking tea made from rose petals may be a good way to treat high blood pressure.

This is an effect of the plant’s ability to synthesize chemicals called phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Similar claims have been made about the ability of many other plants to treat various diseases including cancer and diabetes.

Source:

https://www.public.asu.edu/~camartin/plants/Plant%20html%20files/echinocereusengelmannii.html

https://cals.arizona.edu/yuma/plant_index/echenocereus_engelmanii.htm

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5624/

https://nmrareplants.unm.edu/node/70

Anwar Hossain

My name is Anwar Hossain. I am a cactus lover, researcher, and cactus blogger.

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