Care of the cacti Echinocactus horizonthalonius or Turk's Head Cactus |
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The genus Echinocactus, family Cactaceae, comprises 6 species of cactus native to Mexico and the Southwest of the USA. Some species are: Echinocactus horizonthalonius, Echinocactus grusonii, Echinocactus texensis, Echinocactus platyacanthus. Common names: Devil's-Head Cactus, Turk's Head, Eagle Claws, Bisnagre, Turk's-head Cactus, Devilshead, Silverbell Cactus, Turk's Head Cactus. This species is native to northern Mexico. They are cacti with a globose body that reach 25 cm (9.84") in height. They are bluish-green in color and covered in a thin waxy coating. They have 7 to 13 broad ribs with woolly areolas on the upper part of the plant. The radial spines are 5-7 (up to 2.5 cm/0.98" long) and the central spines can be 0-5; the spines are curved and can be gray or black. The showy apical flowers are up to 6 cm (2.36") in diameter and are pink and red. They bloom in summer, even several times. In the juvenile phase they are used in pots and planters; when they grow they are interesting for rockeries and gardens of cacti and succulents. The Echinocactus horizonthalonius needs direct sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. They resist frosts of -2 ºC (28.4 ºF) if the substrate is well dry. They prefer a calcareous and sandy soil; use a mixture, in the same proportions, of vermiculite, coarse siliceous sand and clay garden substrate. These cacti need less watering than most; water every 20 days in spring, every 10-12 days in summer, every 30-35 days in autumn and do not water in winter. Fertilize with mineral fertilizer for cacti in spring. Pruning is not necessary. They are plants very sensitive to excess moisture that quickly rot the tissues. Although growth is very slow, propagation by seeds is quite simple. |
Images of the cacti Echinocactus horizonthalonius or Turk's Head Cactus |
 Echinocactus horizonthalonius  Echinocactus horizonthalonius |