Barrel Cactus

Most of us are familiar with cacti, that come in different shapes and size. These plants belong to the family Cactaceae and are native to the Americas (except some species). Cactus plants, that are barrel-shaped are known as barrel cactus. Such cacti belong to the genera Echinocactus and Ferocactus. The genus Echinocactus contain around six species of barrel cacti and the most popular among them is golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii). There are 30 species of barrel cacti in the genus Ferocactus and most of them are solitary. As compared to some other cacti, barrel cacti are fast growing.

More about Barrel Cacti

Barrel cacti are commonly seen in some deserts of North America. It is a common misconception that barrel cacti are filled with water and due to the weight of this water, they are found in a tipped over condition. In fact, it is not water, but, an alkaline slimy juice, that fills the cacti. Like other plants, barrel cacti grow towards the sun, and also, towards south, so as to prevent sunburn. It is due to this feature, that barrel cacti are referred to as compass cacti. Most of these cacti sport ribs and long spines, are yellow in color. These cacti can grow to a height of up to one meter. Barrel cacti produce small fruits that resemble pineapple, but, they are not edible. The yellow-colored flowers are found to develop on the top and are formed after many years of growth. Some of the barrel cacti produce flowers in darker shades, like, pink, red, purple, etc. They produce offshoots, that are round and such offshoots are known as pups.

Barrel cactus adaptations include the numerous ribs, that allow the plant to expand in size, during rains, so as to store water and shrink during dry spells for water retention. The spines protect the plant from being eaten by animals, thereby preventing loss of water. Apart from these adaptations, barrel cacti have a perfect root system, that helps the plants to absorb water efficiently. These plants have enough water in their bodies, so as to survive for many days, even if they are uprooted. Now, as you know more about barrel cacti and their features, let us take a look at how to take care of these plants, that are grown for ornamental purposes.

Barrel Cactus Care

Even though, there are many species of barrel cacti, that vary in size, golden barrel cacti is the most popular among them and are commonly grown as houseplants. There are many other barrel cacti species, that can be easily grown. Propagation is through seeds or young plants. If you go for these plants, make sure that they are healthy and in good shape. Plant them in suitable containers filled with a potting mix made of equal parts of commercial cactus mix and perlite. You may also use a mixture of perlite, sand and garden soil in equal amounts. As these plants like full sun or partial shade, choose such locations for placing them. Even though, cacti do not require regular watering, you have to water these plants, whenever the soil in the containers become dry. However, over watering may cause rotting of the plants. Most of the cacti require nitrogen fertilizers, but, if you have golden barrel cactus, use phosphorous fertilizers in small amounts, thrice a year. If you want to keep the plants outdoors, make sure to bring them indoors during winters.

In short, barrel cactus is a type of cactus, which is popular for its shape. These plants are easy to grow, as they require less care and maintenance. With proper care, barrel cacti can grow for many years as houseplants.