Easter Lily Cactus (Echinopsis oxygona)
By malverntrev
9 comments
Perhaps three of the ugliest plants we have. Most of the year our trio just sit in the corner of the conservatory, but in May, June and July they can become the star turn as they produce their flowers. Large palm-of-the-hand sized pink flowers with the most amazing scent which fills the whole house. They come in two or perhaps three flushes with all three plants producing flowers at exactly the same time. The flowers only last three days or so, but for something a little different, they fit the bill. Our trio had seven flowers first week in June and have just had another nine at the end of June.
Easy to propogate – just take off a side shoot and plonk it in a pot (one on the right in the picture). Might have to wait a few years for flowers though. Our oldest and most prolific plant was my mum’s and it must be at least 30 years old, but the youngest of the flowering trio is only about five.
Care is easy. They like lots of sun/heat in the summer, when they should be well watered just like your other plants. A little feed too. The key to success is to stop watering completely in September, give them no water during the winter, then ease in watering during April.
29 Jun, 2012
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Comments
Cacti are my most favourite plants. Please don't say they're ugly. Most plants are boring when not in flower but cacti have fascinating shapes all year round :o)
These flowers are fantastic ...
29 Jun, 2012
Very pretty, such a delicate pink, this one reminds me of a sea urchin. I am learning to appreciate cacti since Hywel and others show theirs and I can now see the beauty in them even when not flowering. Though I still have trouble thinking some succulents are cacti! I do have some house leeks which I am fond of.
29 Jun, 2012
Beautiful flowers. I have for the first time bought some succulents and am a bit wary of looking after them, so your tips about watering have come at the right time for me.
29 Jun, 2012
From what ive seen so far from all the cacti pics they have some of the most stunning flowers of any plant. And this one just proves it, Great flowers.
29 Jun, 2012
stunning flowers I have one similar only the flower is white and the perfume is superb great pics :o))
29 Jun, 2012
Hi, my cacti has just flowered for the first time in 8yrs! It looks fab.. two beautiful large white flowers, with a lovely scent also.. can you tell me, what happens with the flowers after they die back?
29 May, 2013
The flowers will just shrivel up and may well just stay on the body of the cactus. I just pick them off when they're dried up.
12 Jun, 2013
Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I'm waiting for mine to flower again this year - a few promising buds (but buds don't always produce flowers). Last year we had 13 flowers from our three more mature plants.
I took a few offshoots last year to create new plants. Just break off the little cactus buds as they appear around the base and pop them in a new pot - fairly easy as long as you don't water them in the winter months.
12 Jun, 2013
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that is spectacular!!! its a perfect flower!! i had no idea they could be scented!
29 Jun, 2012