ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII: CHARACTERISTICS, CARE AND PESTS - BIOLOGY - 2025

Echinocactus grusonii is a cactus of the Cactaceae family, endemic to the central region of Mexico, specifically Hidalgo, Querétaro and Zacatecas. It is a species of great importance from a biological, ecological, ornamental and cultural point of view.

It has recently experienced a significant decline in natural populations in its place of origin due to illegal collection. Many settlers commercialize wild plants, which associated with the loss of the natural habitat allows them to be classified in danger of extinction.

Echinocactus grusonii. Source: pixabay.com

The Echinocactus grusonii species is commonly called mother-in-law's seat, mother-in-law's cushion, barrel ball, gold ball, or hedgehog cactus. The structure of the cactus is globose in appearance, green in color and can reach more than one meter in diameter.

It is made up of numerous ribs with firm brown spines and a powdery wool around it. In the wild, it blooms in early spring, emitting showy yellow flowers 5 cm long.

It is a plant of easy propagation, which under natural conditions adapts to low rainfall and an average annual temperature of 21º C. However, when grown in a nursery, it requires loose soils with good drainage, slightly shaded at first and then high solar radiation.

General characteristics

Morphology

The stems are simple, globose, sometimes cylindrical, of great size, between 20-130 cm in height and 40-80 cm in diameter. It often produces buds at the base level, they are light green in color and have a yellowish fuzz at the apex.

It has numerous bright yellow spines, the youngest, then paler and the older ones with brown tones. Elongated, large, distant and divergent areolas with a yellow fuzz over those located at the apex.

Thorns on Echinocactus grusonii. Source: pixabay

The radial spines -8 to 10- 3 cm long, are narrow towards the apex with a fine point or subulate. The central spines -4 to 5- are larger, up to 5 cm in length.

Flowers 4-8 cm long and 5 cm in diameter emerge from the areolas. It has yellow outer petals on the upper side and brown on the underside, the inner petals have yellowish tones.

The pericarpel with a spheroidal structure has acuminate scales with abundant lanosity in the armpits. The flowers do not fully unfold and last for three days.

The fruits are spherical and oblong, covered with scales and woolly towards the apex, they are 12-20 mm long. The seeds have a brown and shiny integument and are 1.5 mm long.

Habitat and distribution

It is located in areas with a semi-dry and semi-warm climate with low rainfall between 1,300 and 2,000 meters above sea level. It adapts to soils of calcareous origin -fluvisols, lithosols, regosols, vertisols-, pH 6-8.5, slope 0-90% and areas of strong insolation.

Flowers in Echinocactus grusonii. Source: pixabay

The Echinocactus grusonii species is endemic to the central region of Mexico, from the State of Hidalgo to Tamaulipas. It is one of the most popular species of cacti, however, today it is difficult to find in its natural habitat.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Subclass: Caryophyllidae
• Order: Caryophyllales
• Family: Cactaceae
• Subfamily: Cactoideae
• Tribe: Cacteae
• Genus: Echinocactus
• Species: Echinocactus grusonii Hildm., 1891

Fruit on Echinocactus grusonii. Source: pixabay

Danger of extinction

Echinocactus grusonii is reported as an endangered species. Illegal trade is the main reason for the disappearance of various species of cacti, including the mother-in-law seat.

On the other hand, the change in land use towards agricultural or silvopastoral activities has contributed to its disappearance, associated with the extraction of materials such as sand, rock or gravel from the places where the plant grows.

Today at the institutional level, campaigns are carried out to promote the conservation of the natural habitat of various cacti. Even in Mexico, new species of the Echinocactus genus have not been declared, just to avoid being looted.

Care

The particular shape of the Echinocactus grusonii species, its versatility and firmness make it a highly appreciated ornamental silver.

Provision

Echinocactus grusonii plants can be placed outside in full sun exposure. Plants acquired in a nursery -semishade- must be gradually acclimatized to the sun's rays to avoid insolation.

It is not recommended to locate this type of cactus indoors. It is recommended that it be a terrace or interior patio that allows direct sunlight.

Echinocactus grusonii in pot. Source: Petar43

Substratum

In pots, a universal substrate for cactus mixed in equal parts with perlite is recommended. Large containers are required in order to promote the development of the root system.

The best substrate is the one that retains the most water for the longest time. In parks and gardens, cacti require calcareous soils or mixtures with sand that provide sufficient moisture and good drainage.

Irrigation

The frequency and abundance of irrigation depends on the climatic conditions and the type of soil or substrate. In summer it is watered twice a week, during winter once a month, the rest of the year every 12-15 days.

Excess moisture in the soil can affect the proper development of plants, limiting their growth. Respiration of the root system is restricted or rot may occur due to the incidence of fungi or soil bacteria.

Fertilization

Cacti require fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium, and low in nitrogen content, such as formulas 12.5-25-25 or 8-34-32. In addition, it is advisable to apply foliar fertilizers that contain microelements: boron (Bo), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mb), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn).

Subscribing takes place during spring until late summer. In pots it is advisable to apply a liquid fertilizer following the recommendations of the container for cacti.

Spread

Echinocactus grusonii multiplies by seeds during spring and summer. This species is very prolific, due to the fact that the vast majority of the flowers produce fruits.

Propagation begins with the preparation of sowing trays with a loose, calcareous and disinfected substrate. It is moistened in abundance, the seeds are placed on the surface and covered with sand or fine plant material.

Echinocactus garden. Source: H. Zell

The pots are placed in a shady place avoiding the direct incidence of solar radiation and applying frequent waterings. It is recommended to cover the containers with transparent plastic to avoid the loss of moisture from the substrate.

In this way the seedlings emerge after 2-3 weeks. When the seedlings begin to germinate, the transparent plastic is removed and they are placed in a more illuminated place.

When the plants reach a suitable size to be manipulated they can be transplanted into individual containers. In this way, after two years a specimen obtained from seeds will reach a height of 10 cm.

Another method of propagation is through the use of cuttings or shoots that the plant emits at ground level. Cactaceae have the ability to root from young shoots removed from the base of the stem.

Pests

Mealybugs (

Mealybugs are sucking insects that feed on the sap of cacti. Those that affect the aerial part or the root system are distinguished, as well as cottony or scale mealybugs.

The Pseudococcus spp. (Cottony mealybug) emanates a secretion that serves as protection against predators. It measures between 2-5 mm; the body is covered by a white powdery discharge and has lateral filaments visible to the naked eye.

Cottony mealybug (Pseudococcus spp.) Source: D-Kuru

The Rhizoecus spp. (cottony root mealybug) is a parasite of roots usually found in potted plants. The symptoms are manifested as cacti that do not grow as a result of the severe attack at the root level.

The control of this type of insect is carried out through biological methods, cultural control and disinfection of the substrate.

The elimination of ants, management of alternative hosts such as weeds, pruning and facilitating sun exposure decrease the incidence of the insect.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars are a larval stage of different insects with strong jaws that cause damage at the root level.

Among the main pests are the larvae of the genera Premnotrypes (white worm), Anoxia and Melolontha (soil worms). These larvae consume the roots causing the desiccation of the plant; the control is chemical and disinfection of the substrate.

Mites (

Tetranychus urticae (spider mite) is the most common mite that attacks the Echinocactus grusonii cactus. Red spider mites are tiny and can be detected by the presence of a fine cobweb on the cactus spines.

These insects reduce the commercial value of the plant, since they cause bites that necrotize and cause malformation of the stem. Chemical control is carried out with specific and contact insecticides-acaricides.

Tetranychus urticae. Source: Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium

Other pests

Aphids

Aphids are rare in cacti, however, they are associated with some ants that inhabit the common environment. They are sucking insects that cause wounds at the level of the epidermis, becoming a gateway for fungi and bacteria; control is chemical.

Snails and slugs

These mollusks prefer the tender stems and shoots of the plant. The highest incidence occurs after rainfall or during irrigation at night.

The control is carried out using products based on non-systemic metaldehydes or phenyl-methyl-carbamates with contact insecticidal activity. An ecological way is to use natural attractants or to collect the individuals manually.

Nematodes

They are microscopic soil worms that cause galls on plant roots. The control is carried out by disinfection of the soil and elimination of the roots that present incipient bulges.

Crickets and grasshoppers

They affect the soft parts of the cactus, leading to totally devour the plant. They are difficult to control due to their ability to move.

Rodents

In the open field, rats gnaw the succulent stem of different cacti for moisture.

References

1. Cacti and biznagas (Cactaceae) (2017) Naturalist. Recovered at: biodiversity.gob.m
2. Echinocactus grusonii (2019) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
3. Gallegos Casillas, P., Saldaña Escoto, M., López Barahona W., Rodríguez Sierra, JC, Núñez Palenius, HG & Herrera Isidrón, L. (2015) In vitro establishment and micropropagation of the endemic Mexican cactus Echinocactus grusonii (Biznaga golden). Irapuato-Salamanca Campus. University of Guanajuato. Irapuato Gto. Mexico.
4. Jiménez Sierra, Cecilia Leonor (2011) Mexican cacti and the risks they face. University Digital Magazine. Volume 12, No. 1. ISSN: 1067-6079
5. Rodríguez González, M. (2006) In vitro propagation of Echinocactus grusonii Hild., (Cactaceae), a species in danger of extinction. Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo. Institute of Basic Sciences and Engineering. Academic Area of ​​Biology (Degree Thesis) 86 pp.
6. Sánchez, E., Arias, S., Hernández Martínez M. and Chávez, R. 2006. Technical file of Echinocactus grusonii. SNIB-CONABIO databases. Project No. CK016. Mexico. DF