Description:

The Manca Caballos or Cardón ( Echinopsis candicans) is a cactus that belongs to the Cactaceae Family. More than 150 species are identified in its genus.

It is a bushy cactus, it forms individual stems up to 60 cm long.

The cactus can reach a diameter of up to 3 meters, forming communities of dense forests.

Each stem can have a diameter of up to 15 cm. It is characterized by having up to 11 ribs and being light green.

The spines are yellow, the central ones can have a size of 10 cm, and those that are arranged radially are about 5 cm long.

The impressive thing about manca Caballos is its spectacular flowering, with huge flowers up to 20 cm in diameter that only open at night and are very fragrant.

Crop:

The Manca Caballos is a cactus endemic to Argentina. Like other cacti, it grows in full sun exposures and can develop in rustic soils.

It tolerates droughts but it does not tolerate frost too much, so it will not withstand temperatures below 3º for a long time.

It can develop in calcareous rockeries. Having very few irrigation requirements, it should be limited to spring and summer, and should not be watered during the winter.

It is, therefore, a cactus that is very sensitive to excess irrigation, so the substrate must have good drainage capacity.

They barely need fertilization, although the contribution of organic matter on an annual basis maintains adequate nutrient levels.

Multiplication:

By germination of seeds in spring or by cutting.

Applications:

Ideal cactus for xerophytic gardening. Suitable to accompany rockeries.