San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Echinocereus
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| Species: |
websterianus
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Echinocereus websterianus, also known as the San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus or Webster's hedgehog cactus, is a type of cactus. It got its name from Gertrude Webster. She was an American helper who helped start the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. This cactus is known for its beautiful flowers.
Contents
What Does This Cactus Look Like?
Webster's hedgehog cactus is a short, barrel-shaped plant. It can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) (about 2 feet) tall. However, most of them are shorter. They are usually 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) (about 2.5 to 3 inches) wide.
This cactus can grow in clumps. A single plant might have up to 50 other branches growing from its base. It has golden yellow, brown, or white spines. These spines are about 1 cm (0.39 in) (less than half an inch) long. They grow from small, raised spots called areoles.
Flowers and Blooming
The flowers of this cactus can be pink, violet, or white. They open during the day. The flowers are small for this type of cactus. They are only about 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) (about 1.2 to 1.6 inches) wide. They grow up to 6 cm (2.4 in) (about 2.4 inches) long from where they join the cactus.
Once the flowers are pollinated, they do not easily fall off. This can sometimes cause the stem to rot. The cactus blooms in the hot months of June and July. It starts to flower when it is 7 to 10 years old. The blooms stay open for about 2 or 3 days.
Where Does This Cactus Live?
The San Pedro Nolasco hedgehog cactus probably comes from San Pedro Nolasco Island. This island is in the Gulf of California. It might also grow on the mainland of Baja California. You can find it on other islands in the Gulf of California too. These include Isla San Lorenzo Sur and Isla Las Ánimas.
How to Grow This Cactus
It is easy to start new plants from this cactus. However, it takes a long time for them to grow up. This makes them expensive to buy. People like them because their flowers are very pretty.
Caring for the Cactus
If you grow this cactus, water it often between March and October. It needs a deep pot so that extra water can drain away. In winter, it needs a lot of sunlight to make sure it flowers. If you live in a cold place, you will need a greenhouse. This cactus can only survive in temperatures as low as −5 °C (23 °F) (23°F) for short times.
Repotting and Propagation
This cactus is very hard to move to a new pot. It can get marks even if you touch it gently. Instead of repotting, it is better to cut off small new plants. These are called pups. You can also cut off the top part of the plant. Then you can grow new plants from these pieces.
