The farmer's cactus is one of the best-known and most popular cacti. It convinces with its low maintenance and its willingness to bloom.
If you are looking for a starter plant that requires little care and yet appears attractive and floriferous, the peasant cactus (Echinopsis) is the first choice.
The spherical cacti can be found on many window sills and show a colorful series of flowers in summer. The following care instructions will make it easy for you to successfully cultivate the popular sea urchin cactus and experience it in full bloom.
Special features of the peasant cactus
Between April and September, the peasant cacti become an eye-catcher. The colorful trumpet flowers usually open in the early evening hours and bloom mainly at night. Therefore, many cactus owners proudly but unjustifiably assume that they call a “Queen of the Night” their own.
The generic name Echinopsis is derived from the Greek equivalent “echinos” for “hedgehog”. Hence the colloquial name sea urchin cactus.
The cacti flower comparatively early. After just three years, the striking trumpet-like flowers appear in a wide variety of nuances.
Tip: When buying, look out for numerous buds. This shows the willingness to flower later.
Pretty peasant cactus varieties
| Type | Flower Color | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Echinopsis huascha | pink | up to one meter |
| Echinopsis ferox | pink, yellow, red, white | up to 30 cm |
| Echinopsis eyriesii | light pink | up to 20 cm |
| Echinopsis adolfofriedrichii | white | up to 15 cm |
| Echinopsis chrysantha | orange | up to 6 cm |
Find the right location
A sunny flower window is the right location for the robust peasant cactus. The cacti love a warm, light and airy location. In summer, the peasant cactus can go outside.
The desert dwellers like to be much cooler at nightthan during the day. Avoid direct sunlight in midsummer.
In winter, a partially shaded and cool location is preferable. The temperatures should be around ten degrees.
Selecting the ideal substrate
A special cactus substrate is used for the cultivation of the peasant cactus. A mixture of cactus soil and sand has also proven itself. However, the cacti should not be planted in conventional potting soil.
Water the peasant cactus properly
Cacti are only kept moderately moist. During the growing season, the peasant cactus is watered weekly. The soil must be thoroughly dry before each watering.
The plant is not watered in winter. Watering is only resumed in spring when the buds have developed well.
Fertilize the peasant cactus properly
In spring, the peasant cactus is given cactus fertilizer at 14-day intervals to encourage flowering. In the fall, the procedure is repeated. Liquid fertilizer can be added to the irrigation water and is easy to dose.
Overview of planting and care tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • bright • airy • warm in summer • cool in winter |
| Prepare substrate | • Cactus substrate • Cactus soil and sand mixture |
| Casting | • water little in summer • soil must be dry • do not water in winter |
| Fertilize | • In spring and autumn every 14 days with cactus fertilizer |
Repot peasant cactus
The peasant cactus should be repotted every two to three years. In any case, you have to transplant when the roots have taken over the planter and no more soil can be seen.
Step by step instructions
1. Select planter
2. Prepare substrate
3. Carefully pot out cactus
4. Remove old substrate from cactus
5. Place cactus in new planter
6. Fill up the substrate
7. Lightly water the soil
Tip: Wrapping newspaper or a terry towel around the cactus protects against the long spines of many peasant cactus hybrids when transplanting.
Recognize pests on the peasant cactus
While disease is rarely a problem, pest infestations are comparatively common.
The peasant cactus is particularly affected by:
- Mealy lice
- root lice
- spider mites
Mealybugs on the peasant cactus
Mealybugs are easy to identify and can be collected individually. The pests can be removed with a wooden or cotton swab dipped in alcohol beforehand.
Tip: The alcohol dissolves the waxy layer of mealybugs and ensures reliable removal.
The procedure should be repeated several times. In the summer, the infested cactus can be placed outside. Ichneumon wasps, ladybirds or lacewings are natural predators .
Root lice on peasant cactus
Root lice are similar to mealybugs, but colonize the plant pot instead of the plant itself. An infestation is not immediately recognized and damage to the roots can occur.
If white nests appear on the root ball and the inner walls of the planters, you should react immediately. Root lice can be fought like mealybugs.
If the infestation is noticed too late, the cactus can unfortunately no longer be saved and should be disposed of.
Tip: Also check the neighboring plants at the flower window. In addition to cacti, bromeliads and Stapelia are also endangered.
Spider mites on the peasant cactus
Spider mites can be removed early, usually by showering off the peasant cactus. Before treatment, the plant pot is placed in a plastic bag and sealed watertight so that the soil does not become soaked and the pests do not get into the soil.
In the case of a light infestation, treatment with a washing-up liquid solution helps. Place the peasant cactus outside and let lacewings, ladybugs, gall midges or parasitic wasps do the pest control.
Propagating peasant cactus
Propagation can be done by seeds or by using side shoots. The side shoots are cut off in spring. The cuts on the side shoots need to dry for a few days before they can be potted.
The plant pots are bright, but not placed in the blazing sun. If the offshoot sprout again, this is an indication of a successful propagation.