California Hedgehog

California Hedgehog Care

Echinocereus engelmannii

What is the plant

If you like cacti and succulents, pay attention to this tiny cactus that delights its owners with beautiful pink flowers.

California Hedgehog has many names: Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus, Saints Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus, Strawberry Cactus, Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, and Purple Torch. It's native to North and Central America.

Echinocereus engelmannii boasts bright magenta flowers. It can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. This plant is easy to care for and grow.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

18°C - 23°C

Hardiness zone

5a - 9

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Like most of its kind, Echinocereus engelmannii does not need a lot of water. On the contrary, excessive moisture can cause rotting of the roots. Therefore, allow the soil to dry well between waterings; reduce watering to a minimum in cold seasons.
Pruning
The plant does not need pruning, as it is usually miniature cactus. However, you can remove over-blooming flowers and offsets for propagation.
Fertilizer
California Hedgehog usually grows on poor soils devoid of nutrients, so fertilizing them is not necessary for growth. However, you can use fertilizers for cacti and succulents once every few months.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Echinocereus engelmannii needs at least six hours of full sun each day to grow and bloom well. Therefore, place it near the lightest window, although a western windowsill will also work well.
Soil
We can identify this plant as a cactus, which means you will need loose, sandy soil with good drainage. You can buy ready-made soil for cacti and succulents or prepare it yourself using sand, compost, and small pebbles.
Propagation
You can grow a cactus from seed or with offsets. The second method is the easiest and simplest. To do this, you must carefully separate the offset growing on the mother plant, let its edge dry, and plant it in the cactus mix.

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Temperature
The cactus loves warmth, although it can withstand short-term frost. If you want your cactus to delight you with flowers, ensure the temperature is above 50ºF (10°C).
Container
This plant has small roots, so choose a shallow container. The container must have drainage holes, but the material does not play a significant role.
Fun fact
The cactus has spines of different colors, but the longest one is always white.