How to Care for this Easter Lily (Echinopsis eyriesii, native to and neighboring countries.)

This little cactus has a long legacy—its great-grandparent was given to the grower in 1968, and these were featured in the Los Angeles Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/05/easter-lily-cactus-echinopsis-eyriesii-echinopsis- oxygona.html *With proper care, it will grow and give you incredibly beautiful flowers off and on April–Sept. *Flowers are over 6-8 inches tall and about 4 inches across with a delicate scent. *Unwrap cactus; if you cannot immediately, set upright in shallow bowl of water so bottom is wet and put out in the sun or in a sunny window—wear gloves to protect from spines. *A wide bowl is the best shape for planting; the cactus will grow to the size of a mini- watermelon or big cantaloupe in a few years! I use Fiskars 14” Terrabowls available from Amazon.com, about $12. Buds or “pups” often form and grow around the sides of the plant. You can leave them or gently break them off and plant them, once they are at least 1-2” in diameter. *Miracle Gro Cactus & Citrus Potting Soil is good, holding enough moisture but providing drainage—however, other potting soils are fine too. *Once night time temps drop below 40 degrees, keep the plant inside, in a sunny south- facing window. (They can be out year-round in milder climates). Baby plants should be watered once a week as they are just developing roots. Once established, the plants need less water in winter. Allow soil to dry for 2–4 weeks before watering again so water runs out bottom of pot. Beginning in spring, usually around March 15, start watering/fertilizing deeply as soon as soil is dry, perhaps weekly depending on temp and location. Use 1 tsp Miracle-Gro per gallon of water. Once night temps are above 40 degrees, around June 1, move outside to full sun at least six hours per day, and keep watering; this is the growth season! Plants can produce blooms once they are at least 4-5” in diameter. Some buds fall off. First bloom is usually around April with flowers usually ending by October. Flowers usually open at night and last 36 hours. Leave the wilted blossom on the plant until it dries out and falls off.

If your plant begins to turn brown or yellow in summer it may not be getting enough water. Once soil is dry, water enough so water runs out bottom of pot. Also, some cactus can get “sunburn”, especially if they have been in all winter, when suddenly put out into hot, all-day sun—if so, offer filtered sunlight. More information is available here: http://echinopsis.com/care/ Bumping them can cause scarring; handle gently and use gloves if transplanting.

They will each get to about the size of a cantaloupe, and then begin to grow taller—over 2 feet! But a 14” diameter bowl should be large enough to hold one plant forever. Buds or “pups” form on the cactus as it ages. You can leave them on or gently break them off during the growing season and plant them—in other pots—these may need more water so they can form roots. Remember: more sun=more flowers!

Any questions? Just email or call their mom (my daughter calls me the “cactus whisperer”) at 310-560-7324 or [email protected].