Barrel Cactus Care Tips: How to Grow a Barrel Cactus

Barrel cactus is the common name for a type of cactus best known for its round shape. Barrel cacti grow natively throughout Central Mexico and the Southwestern United States in places like the Chihuahua, Sonora, and Mojave deserts. In dry, warmer climates, the barrel cactus complements desert landscapes, succulent gardens, and rock gardens. In colder climates, you can grow barrel cacti inside as houseplants.

Barrel cactus plants are within the Cactaceae family and fall into two genera, Ferocactus and Echinocactus. Some species of barrel cactus include the California barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus), the Arizona barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni), also known as the fishhook barrel cactus, and the golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), which blooms bright yellow flowers. Barrel cacti thrive in USDA hardiness zones nine through twelve.

The barrel cactus thrives in warm, dry conditions.

1. 1. Choose a sunny location for your barrel cactus. If planting outside, choose a location in full sun. If growing indoors, place your barrel cactus houseplants near a sunny window.
2. 2. Plant your cactus in well-draining soil. Use cactus soil, which contains mostly inorganic matter like pumice, chicken grit, gravel, or perlite. Unlike regular potting soil, which can suffocate your barrel cactus, cactus soil allows good drainage and airflow.
3. 3. Water your cactus sparingly. As desert plants, barrel cacti require minimal watering. In warm, dry climates, water your outdoor cactus once a week during summer and only a few times during the entire winter season. To avoid root rot, water your indoor cactus every two to three weeks. Allow the soil around your barrel cactus to fully dry out before rewatering.
4. 4. Avoid humidity and temperature fluctuations. Barrel cacti do best in warm conditions between fifty and eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Place your barrel cactus away from air vents, humidifiers, and bathrooms where temperatures and humidity levels fluctuate.

Consider some of these general tips when caring for your barrel cactus.

1. 1. Use a clay pot with drainage holes. A pot with drainage holes will help release excess water and clay pots facilitate the evaporation of moisture.
2. 2. Repot your plant when necessary. If you see roots sticking through the drainage holes of your pot or above the surface of the soil, repot your barrel cactus. Wear thick gloves and gently remove the plant from its pot. Remove excess soil from the roots with your hands. Repot in a larger pot with fresh cactus soil.
3. 3. Fertilize your cactus during the growing season. During peak growing season, consider using a liquid fertilizer every four to six weeks. Choose a high-potassium, low-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage growth.

Follow these general steps to grow barrel cactus plants from seed.

1. 1. Acquire seeds: Take some seeds from the barrel cactus flowers on top of the plant or buy seeds from a garden center.
2. 2. Soak: Soak the seeds in water overnight.
3. 3. Plant: Once the seeds have been soaked, place them in a wide, shallow container or a seed tray filled with cactus soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep the container in bright, indirect sunlight for several weeks.
4. 4. Water: Keep the soil moist while the seeds germinate.
5. 5. Repot: Once the seeds begin to sprout, typically after five or six weeks, remove them from their container and plant them in a well-draining pot. Be patient—it can take years for barrel cacti to establish themselves.

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