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Description:
Ferocactus hystrix is a very beautiful species, widespread in
cultivation that forms a large barrel shaped specimen with time. This is
a cristate form, producing very wide undulant fans topped with few (but
fierce) yellowish/red spines. The cells at the tip of the branch where
growth occurs begin to multiply at a much faster rate and the normal
growing tip "goes crazy", creating fantastic fans with pronounced
sculpture effects. Sometime the plant grows a fast growing cylindrical
stem to reveal its origins.
Crested Ferocactus can be found (although not common) in
cultivation and some of these crested plants have a place in most
collections. A large well grown crested Ferocactus is truly an
achievement. These are harder to grow well than they appear.
Cultivation: It is of easy cultivation. Require
full sun or
half shade, but in the
summer it is best to avoid direct sun during the hottest hours of
the day (however it benefits of morning sun, that help to produce
strong and colourful spines).
The plants on their own roots
should be kept in a deep pot with a very draining mineral substrate. But
be particularly careful with watering, which all crested plant require
(rot sensitive). Keep dry during the winter rest. Since they are rapid
growers, and need plenty of space for their roots, repotting should be
done every other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot.
The grafted
plants are easy to grow and will form a large specimen
with age. Watering during the active growing season (spring and
summer); this will encourage steady growth, and prevent the crest from becoming flabby.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and
cultivars of Lobivia (Echinopsis) pentlandii .
of
plants belonging to the Lobivia...
complex
(This
Taxon
has lots of synonyms
(
like many other cacti) whit several controversial varieties and subspecies
and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form
is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate
characteristics):
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