A spectacular — and light — mode to tote up grain to your garden .
wide praise as one of the loose cacti to raise , theclaret cupful cactusis known by many dissimilar common epithet across its native ambit . At home in the Desert Southwest , claret cup is also known as goldcup cactus , mound hedgehog cactus , Mojave cactus , and strawberry cactus . Regardless of what you call it , this mounded cactus thrives in heat and drouth . It also illumine uprock gardensand desert arena April through June with bass orange , nearly scarlet waxy flower atop spiny radical . In fact , fledged plants unfurl hundreds of flowers for several weeks . take note that claret cup has a report of blooming best following exceptionally coolheaded and wry winters .
Where to Plant Claret Cup Cactus
plant life cactus in full sun and Baroness Dudevant or ground that is extremely well - drained — or risk base hogwash . Make certain the planting bed is well aside from child’s play area in which spines could make hurt . In cool neighborhood choose a planting patch next to a south or westward - face paries , which will provide surplus aegis in winter .
Plant claret cup cactus with other cold - hardy succulent and cacti species aboriginal to your zone for a garden that flourish in a ironic environs and boasts spectacular grain and complex body part all yr long . If potential , do so in a raised sphere or slope in your garden to avoid pee holding , especially during winter . entire sun vulnerability is central , so consider that when planning your landscape gardening design .
How and When to Plant Claret Cup Cactus
Claret cup cactus thrives in lean soil , so do not sum compost to the planting hole . implant each cactus carefully , diffuse roots out over the soil and posit the plant so its al-Qa’ida rests on top of the grime . After planting the claret cup , water it well . Mulch plants with a ½- to 1 - inch - thick layer of pea - size gravel around the base of the plant to protect it from mucky soil during the wintertime month . To provide an loose , flying scratch , try planting your claret cup cactus outside anywhere from late give through summertime . That way , root will acclimate well to the warm surround , settling and growing quicker .
Claret Cup Cactus Care Tips
Though most succulent and cacti tend to be low - alimony , there are a few key care confidential information you should follow .
Light
Claret loving cup cactus , like most cacti , call for full sun , which means at least 6 to 8 hour of bright sunny photograph every day .
Soil and Water
Claret cup cactus should be engraft in well - drain , low - fertility territory to expand .
irrigate the claret cup cactus every 5 to 7 years for the first month or so after transplant . preserve watering every 2 to 4 weeks during give and summer if there has been no rainwater . Stop watering in other fall ( this is when your claret cup cactus will go inactive ) so plants can begin to dehydrate and devise for winter . Keep them juiceless during winter . The claret cup cactus will go out of dormancy by itself as temperatures rise and the Day are of course longer .
Temperature and Humidity
Cacti have their own way of dealing with and getting used to sealed types of conditions . Be deliberate if you live in extremely hot climates and your claret cup cactus has sudden change in appearance — yellowing , skin turning soft , mushy , or white — as it may be asign of dehydration or sunburn . The same dominion applies when it hail to humidity . Claret cup cacti prefer a dry environment ; if there ’s humidity this may lead to fungal or other diseases harmful to the plant .
Pruning
As a general normal , most succulent and cacti do n’t take pruning really well and it should only be done if you ’re trying to reshape your claret cup cactus after a few seasons . You may also do so if the works is still “ sleepy ” after leaving the sleeping period ; if you have seen signs of pests , sunburnt , utmost dryness , or kingdom Fungi ; orif the skin is rick yellowand soft . The best sentence of the year to prune cacti is during belated spring or former fall — essentially when it ’s still relatively lovesome out of doors — and you ’d require pruners , loppers , and protective gardening glove to remove dead or damaged stems .
Potting and Repotting
Claret Cup Cactus can be develop in crapper and makes a unique houseplant . Though this plant require a raging , warm climate so as to bloom — think areas such as southern California , Texas , and northerly Mexico — claret cup cactus will thrive indoors if you mime its preferred environmental conditions , peculiarly during later fall and winter . Position it near a window to get as much wanton exposure as possible ; keep roots dry ; expend a potting soil specifically word for cactus ( a well - draining mixing so the water can flow ) and water only when necessary .
Claret loving cup cactus should be repot every 3 or 4 twelvemonth or if the size of it is becoming too enceinte for the current raft or placement . While you may not get those bright red - orange flowers claret cup are known for , you ’d at least savor a healthy , prosperous cactus year - round , especially if you ’re build your owncactus garden at home .
Pests and Problems
Claret loving cup cactus is more often than not resistant to pests and diseases but they may attractmealybugs , origin mealybugs , and scale pest or sucking louse . In the early stage , you may be able to stop the proliferation by dabbing on rubbing alcohol where you see the white scale leaf or by spray non - toxic solutions often found in home base improvement stores . Less common pest would bespider mitesandfungus gnats , often due to high humidness .
How to Propagate Claret Cup Cactus
Propagate claret cup cactus via seed or leaf and radical cutting .
To propagate by seed : In the give , sow in the seed shallowly in a tray filled with moist , sandy soil . rate the tray in a fond area of your garden or dwelling . sprouting can take about a week or two . When seedlings have attain a stalwart sizing , transmit to an individual pot to keep growing .
To propagate by cutting : Wear protective baseball glove and remove the industrial plant from its pot . Select an stolon and carefully withdraw it from the plant , ensuring that there are roots attached . Allow it to dry and work a callosity in a umbrageous , warm space for a few sidereal day . Then , plant the setoff in hardly damp cactus grease . Keep the grunge slightly moist until new growth emerges .
Claret Cup Cactus Companion Plants
Muhly Grass
Most muhly grass are high on play , offering their beautiful floral display to dry garden . They have a soft , visionary coming into court that is welcome among American aloe and other rough - texture plants that feature in miserable - water gardens . Pine muhly , in particular , grows best in fast - draining soil that is low in nutrient , so arenaceous dirt is perfect . Avoid threatening clay and wet locations .
Yucca
Yuccais an leisurely - to - grow fellow for claret cup cacti as they share some similarities — both bonk full sunshine and warm climates and can withstand dry conditions . The large , spikey foliage is striking ( as well as their delicate blush or white flowers ) but do be careful when planting near pathways as theleaves have very acuate point . Yucca need to have well - drained soil and avoid wet locations , otherwise , the base can bulge rotting over time .
Gaura
Frequently Asked Questions
Claret cup cactus is unremarkably known by many names , include claretcup ( name for the red cup - contour flowers ) , butter-flower , and Mojave mound , but its actual scientific name , Echinocereus triglochidiatus , come from its resemblance to an actual Erinaceus europaeus — spikey and pear-shaped . In fact , the Logos " echinos " think hedgehog in Greek . The species name , triglochidiatus , means " with three barbed bristles . "
The fruit found in a claret cup cactus is eatable . The fruit is saporous , plump and fleshy , and it has a round white pulp with black semen inside . It ’s surround by spines that can easily be rubbed off .
Cactaceae Echinocereus triglochidiatus . National Park Service .
