Echinofossulocactus MULTICOSTATUS

Echinofossulocactus MULTICOSTATUS - Many-ribbed echinofossulocactus, Echinofossulocactus multicostatus, Stenocactus multicostatus, Brittonrosea.

Echinofossulocactus is a small genus in the family Cactaceae from Northern and Central Mexico, growing in mountain ravines and valleys on heavy soils. It includes 33 species, most of which are distinguished by a specific rib structure, which is why these cacti are called "lamellar". The genus is characterized by great similarity between species and numerous hybrids. The name comes from the Latin 'echinatus' - "prickly" and 'fossula' - "ditch, groove".

The stems are green, spherical, 8-10 cm (3.1-4 in) in diameter, solitary, with the exception of the species CAESPITOSUS, COPTONOGONUS, and MULTICOSTATUS, which form lateral shoots in old age. The ribs in most species are high, flat, sinuous, and densely arranged. In adult plants, their number reaches 100. Pronounced ribbing develops at 3-4 years of age. The areoles are large, sparsely arranged, and covered with white or yellow felt. Radial spines are 4-12, sometimes up to 25, from white and yellow to light brown, slender, straight, 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in) long. Central spines in numbers up to 4 are yellow, dark gray, or brown, more rigid, round or flat in cross-section, with transverse grooves, mostly curved upwards, 1-8 cm (0.4-3.1 in) long.

In collections, Echinofossulocactus plants bloom in early spring. The flowers are bell-funnel-shaped, 1.5-2.5 cm (0.6-1 in) long and in diameter, appearing on stem apices at 5-6 years of age; the corolla is white, with a violet or pinkish tint and a dark stripe along the petals. The floral tube is very short, with scales, without hairs or spines.

Echinofossulocactus multicostatus is one of the most diverse species, differing in spines, shape, and number of ribs. The stem is solitary, spherical, bright green with a flat apex, reaching eight to fifteen centimeters (3.1-6 in) in width and seven to twelve (2.8-4.7 in) in height. The ribs are very rigid, thin, wavy, usually numbering from fifty to one hundred. The areoles are small and sparsely located. The spines of this cactus are arranged radially, light brown, thin, of various lengths. There are no central spines. The flowers are white-violet with a purplish-violet stripe along the petals.

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 5-10 minutes. Then they are sown in a flat with successively poured drainage layer of 7-10 mm (0.3-0.4 in), a 2 cm (0.8 in) layer of loose leaf soil, and a 1.5-2 cm (0.6-0.8 in) layer of washed river sand. Seeds up to 3 mm (0.12 in) in size, especially small dust-like ones, are not sprinkled with sand, but sown directly on the surface. Larger seeds can be sown in furrows no deeper than 3 mm (0.12 in). They are moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light at a temperature of around 24-28 °C (75-82 °F) by day and 20-24 °C (68-75 °F) by night. Seedlings need ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

Germination times can range from a few days to several months. After emergence, the seedlings represent plantlets with two well-defined cotyledons characteristic of all cacti. All seedlings without exception are very demanding of light. Illumination duration is 8-12 hours. Pricking out of seedlings is carried out after the first hair-spines appear between the cotyledons.

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Echinofossulocactus dislikes direct sunlight. In the natural environment, shrubs and grasses under whose cover it grows create natural shade for the plant. Therefore, when grown indoors, the cactus must be slightly shaded in hot weather. It grows well in strong but indirect lighting.

During the summer period, it is kept at room temperature around 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). A winter dormant period is needed, during which the plant is not watered and kept in a cool room at a temperature not lower than 8 °C (46 °F). For the overwintering period, the cactus requires supplemental lighting - if there is insufficient light during the dormant period, the plant will not bloom in summer.

During the growing period, the cactus is watered generously about once every 1.5-2 weeks; in winter, watering is reduced or stopped altogether. It tolerates slight drought more easily than overwatering. In summer it does not require spraying, but on hot days fresh air is necessary. In spring and summer, during the growing period, it is fed monthly with a mineral fertilizer solution.

In young age, it must be repotted annually in spring; later, as needed, no more than once every two years. The new pot should be only slightly larger than the old one.