Lobivia saltensis

Lobivia saltensisLobivia saltensis Echinopsis or Lobivia saltensis) is a very interesting but variable species with several forms and variety. Habit: It is a small cactus, usually solitary, or heavily clustering. Flowers: Pretty, shining, small up to 5 cm long, unscented, somewhat bell shaped bulgy, dark orange red or crimson that appears almost black when starting to open. The stamen's filaments are dark red and bear cream white contrasting anthers. The stigma lobes

Lobivia saltensis

Echinopsis or Lobivia saltensis) is a very interesting but variable species with several forms and variety.

Habit: It is a small cactus, usually solitary, or heavily clustering.
Flowers: Pretty, shining, small up to 5 cm long, unscented, somewhat bell-shaped-bulgy, dark orange-red or crimson that appears almost black when starting to open. The stamen's filaments are dark red and bear cream-white contrasting anthers. The stigma lobes are greenish.
Blooming season: The greater part of flowers appears in spring in the first flowering, but the plant can erratically produce some flowers in summer too.
Cultivation and Propagation: This is a much decorative frost hardy cactus easily found in cultivation. It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.
Water: In summer, during the vegetative period, it must be regularly watered, but allowing the substratum to completely dry up before irrigating again (but do not overwater ); in winter, it’s to be kept dry. Preferable not to water on overcast days, humid days or cold winter days.
Hardiness: It is a quite frost resistant cactus, hardy to -5° C (- 10° C if very dry
Exposure: Outside full sun or afternoon shade, inside needs bright light, and some direct sun, but, as a former mountain dweller, does not care for extremely high temperatures in summer.

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz