This plant was purchased and planted in September, 1994, and has been there ever since. Unfortunately, it now shows signs that it rotted out as a result of getting too much rain in Summer 2000. Fortunately, I have dozens of seedlings from this plant which could be used to replace it. Next time I will be more careful to keep excessive summer rains off of the Echinocerei.

I purchased this plant from Wildlife Greenhouses in Brighton, MI. They have a great array of indoor cacti and succulents, and if you know what to look for, you will find hardy ones, like this one, in their stock. Sometimes this plant is labelled Echinocereus baileyi var. bruneispinus, a name I have not seen in any of the books. Anyway, go to Wildlife Greenhouses and buy any plants with either name, and most likely you will have something as hardy as this one, which thrived after experiencing -17F outdoors. It is probably even hardier than that.

UPDATE March 25, 2001. I thought that this plant had rotted because of the wet weather, because it was very limp and not really looking right for a winter or spring cactus. So, convinced I was saving it, I cut the longest stems off with a knife, to make cuttings. To my surprise, there was no rot, but the plant was just leaning over more than usual. So I have two cuttings now, and I may have exposed the plant to a dangerous fungus risk! Never do this to your plants unless they are truly mushy. This plant was fine for over six years until now.

Click here or on the picture above to read how I grow this plant.