Description
The yellow appearance of this Echinocactus horizonthalonius is caused by an aberration called “schizochromism”. Here, though, the specific green pigment (chlorophyll) is missing: every other pigment is present at normal levels, the dominant green colouration is lost, but will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of stems and the red colouration of spines.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
Variegated and albinous cacti are regarded as choice and difficult in cultivation, but despite that many of them are relatively easy to grow. But be aware that they cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sun light (especially during the hottest summer days), so grow them in half-shade or under filtered sun. The the albinos can survive only if grafted on a strong green base.
Use mineral well-permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (In general these plants are more tender and cannot endure freezing temperatures ) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Propagation: Plants are grafted onto column-shaped cacti.
Notes
Albinism is a genetic aberration where there is a total absence of pigments. An “albino” plant therefore is one with no pigment whatsoever, it will have totally white stems or leaves.
The yellow appearance of this Echinocactus is more precisely caused by another aberration called “schizochromism”. Here, though, the specific green pigment (chlorophyll) is missing: every other pigment is present at normal levels, the dominant green colouration is lost, but will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of stems and the red colouration of spines.