A dramaticand easyway to add texture to your garden.
Regardless of what you call it, this mounded cactus thrives in heat and drought.
In fact, mature plants unfurl hundreds of flowers for several weeks.
Note that claret cup has a reputation of blooming best following exceptionally cool and dry winters.
check that the planting bed is well away from play areas in which spines could cause injury.
Total sun exposure is key, so consider that when planning your landscaping design.
After planting the claret cup, water it well.
That way, roots will acclimate better to the warm environment, settling and growing faster.
Soil and Water
Claret cup cactus should be planted in well-draining, low-fertility soil to thrive.
Water the claret cup cactus every 5 to 7 days for the first month or so after transplanting.
Continue watering every 2 to 4 weeks during spring and summer if there has been no rain.
Keep them dry during wintertime.
The same rule applies when it comes to humidity.
Potting and Repotting
Claret Cup Cactus can be grown in pots and makes a unique houseplant.
Less common pests would bespider mitesandfungus gnats, often triggered by high humidity.
How to Propagate Claret Cup Cactus
Propagate claret cup cactus via seed or leaf and stem cuttings.
Place the tray in a warm area of your garden or home.
Germination can take about a week or two.
When seedlings have reached a sturdy size, transfer to an individual pot to continue growing.
To propagate by cuttings: Wear protective gloves and remove the plant from its pot.
Select an offset and carefully remove it from the plant, ensuring that there are roots attached.
Allow it to dry and form a callus in a shady, warm place for a few days.
Then, plant the offset in barely moist cactus soil.
Keep the soil slightly moist until new growth emerges.
Avoid heavy clay and wet locations.
Besides this, gaura attractsplenty of pollinators.
In fact, the word “echinos” means hedgehog in Greek.
The species name,triglochidiatus,means “with three barbed bristles.”
The fruit found in a claret cup cactus is edible.
It’s surrounded by spines that can easily be rubbed off.
Cactaceae Echinocereus triglochidiatus.National Park Service.
