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Devil's Pincushion

5.0 out of 5 (3 experiences)

Survivor

Also known as

Horse crippler and Horse Crippler Cactus

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Echinocactus texensis

Genus

Echinocactus

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Devil's Pincushion

💦 Water

How often to water your Devil's Pincushion

Devil's Pincushion needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Devil's Pincushion in your home

Devil's Pincushion love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Devil's Pincushion does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Devil's Pincushion in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Devil's Pincushion

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Devil's Pincushion: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Devil's Pincushion after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Echinocactus

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Devil's Pincushion thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Devil's Pincushion Water Frequency →

Devil's Pincushion Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Devil's Pincushion requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Devil's Pincushion Light Requirements →

Devil's Pincushion Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Devil's Pincushion is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Devil's Pincushion is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Devil's Pincushion →

When and How to Successfully Repot Devil's Pincushion →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Devil's Pincushion grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Devil's Pincushion →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Devil's Pincushion can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Devil's Pincushion Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Devil's Pincushion. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!