Echinocereus viereckii var. morricalii

pickle cactus
Juicy, clumping, apple green cactus is often wrinkled. Nearly spineless pickle-like stems. Grows into low wide colonies. Shimmering, magenta, crepe paper flowers open over many days.
synonyms Echinocereus morricalii
height 4–8
width 8–20in
tolerates Cold, Drought, Heat, Pots, Wind
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 Typically a shriveling cactus indicates that it’s thirsty and should be watered, but this cactus defies that old rule. At times it stays shriveled, even when well watered. Our team has had two cactus in pots side by side with the same care; one stays wrinkled and the other doesn’t.

Most cactus are from the deserts of the world and as such like to go totally bone dry between waterings, making them very low-maintenance. If you see your cactus begin to shrivel or lose firmness, your cactus is likely totally dry and should be watered. To get good healthy growth your plant doesn’t want to sit around totally dried out during it’s growing season. Once it is dry water it.

This cactus comes from an area with summer rainfall and is actively growing during that time, when it is forgiving of overwatering errors. During winter dormancy it should be kept extra dry and will be intolerant of overwatering.

Remember that if kept in a small pot your plant will want more frequent watering.
hardy
to		 20F
exposure Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix
fertilizing All Purpose
origin NW Mexico
california
native		 No

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

Growing Notes

You may find your cactus develops hard brown scabs that eventually cover the cactus, especially on older growth. This is called corking, and is the natural process of the cactus ‘branch’ becoming a cactus ‘stump’ and getting bark, just like trees do. Corking is totally natural and adds to the beauty of your cactus over time.
Typically the pickle cactus won’t need much fertilizer, but if you do fertilize you’ll get many more flowers. Blooms in mid summer.