Care of the cactus Echinopsis schickendantzii or Torch Cactus |
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The genus Echinopsis, family Cactaceae, comprises about 150 species of cacti native to South America. Some species are: Echinopsis schickendantzii, Echinopsis pachanoi, Echinopsis tarijensis, Echinopsis subdenudata, Echinopsis spachiana, Echinopsis schieliana, Echinopsis peruviana, Echinopsis oxygona, Echinopsis huascha, Echinopsis chiloensis, Echinopsis chamaecereus, Echinopsis candicans, Echinopsis bruchii, Echinopsis aurea, Echinopsis atacamensis, Echinopsis ancistrophora, Echinopsis mamillosa, Echinopsis rhodotricha. Common names: Torch Cactus, Columnar Torch Cactus. Scientific synonym: Trichocereus schickendantzii. This species is native to Argentina and Bolivia. They are cacti branched from the base with columnar stems that reach 60 cm (23.62") in height and form groups of 2 meters (6.56 feet) in diameter. They have 16 ribs and on the areoles they have very short yellowish and gray spines. The large white flowers open at night and appear at the apex of the plant. The fruits are green and measure 3 cm (1.18") in diameter. They are used in rockeries, on dry, sunny hillsides, in cactus and succulent gardens, and in pots when young. They are ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens. The Echinopsis schickendantzii needs full sun exposure and a dry and warm climate. They resist frost down to -8 ºC (17.6 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of leaf mulch and coarse sand in the same proportions or a commercial cacti substrate. Planting and transplanting are done in spring. Water moderately waiting for the substrate to dry completely. They resist drought well. Fertilize once in early spring with mineral fertilizer for cacti. They do not need pruning. They are plants resistant to the usual pests and diseases but sensitive to excess watering. They are easily propagated by stem cuttings and from seed sown in spring in a sandy substrate. |
Images of the cactus Echinopsis schickendantzii or Torch Cactus |
 Echinopsis schickendantzii  Echinopsis schickendantzii |