Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 11:43 am
The barrel cactus is a type of large, spherical cactus with ribs that are usually green or brown in color. It has no spines and resembles the shape of an old-fashioned wine barrel because it can grow up to six feet tall (although most range between two and four feet). The barrel cactus originated from Mexico a long time ago.
The barrel cactus is a succulent, meaning it stores water in its fleshy leaves and stems. The plants are grown during the summer months from seedlings that take about two years to mature before they can be planted outside or inside as houseplants.
They require some special care because while their root systems are deep, they only absorb water up to a certain depth. Barrel cacti can be propagated by cutting off the top of the plant, removing some of the spines and insides before putting it in potting soil with water.
The barrels need lots of sun exposure and should never be placed near windowsills or doors that get little sunlight because they require more light than most plants. The barrels are also sensitive to frost, so they must be put in a cool place for the winter months or brought inside if you live in an area that has cold winters.
Barrel cactus can grow up to six feet tall and require some special care because while their root systems are deep, they only absorb water up to a certain depth.
Origin and description of barrel cactus
Barrel cactus originated from Mexico centuries ago and require lots of sun exposure and plenty of light, so they must be put in a cool place for the winter months or brought inside if you live in an area that has cold winters.
The cacti have no spines and resemble the shape of an old-fashioned wine barrel because they can grow up to six feet tall (although most range between two and four feet).
How to propagate barrel cactus
Barrel cactus can be propagated by removing pieces from the top of a healthy mature plant. The removed section is then cut into long, skinny strips and planted upright in soil with good drainage. These will eventually grow new barrel cactus plants that produce fruit or seeds for future propagation efforts.
The easiest way to propagate barrel cacti is to use sharp pruning shears. The top should be cut off, and the bottom left intact for stability in planting.
Propagation by seed can also work but requires more time than propagating from pieces of the plant. Seeds are planted directly into the soil with good drainage and allowed to grow until they form a crown, at which point they are separated and planted in individual pots.
Propagation by seed requires more time than propagating from pieces of the plant because seeds must be allowed to grow until they form a crown before being transplanted into separate containers.
General care information
Light requirements
The Barrel Cactus thrives in areas with plentiful sunlight. It can grow up to six feet high and produces a fruit that resembles a pumpkin, though it is not edible as its flesh contains toxins that cause gastroenteritis or kidney damage if ingested. This plant has spines on the top of each barrel-shaped body segment arranged vertically from the ground to the top of the plant.
Soil/potting mix
To properly care for the Barrel Cactus, it is important to decide if you want a potted plant or an in-ground plant before purchasing one.
A number of factors must be considered when choosing soil and potting mix. If your Bucket Cactus will live on your porch or patio as an indoor houseplant then a heavy potting mix will suffice. However, if you are wanting to plant your Barrel Cactus in the ground then soil that drains well is needed.
Fertilizer
The Barrel Cactus requires a low level of fertilizer. We recommend using an organic fertilizer every three months, or when the cactus begins to show signs of stress. This will help encourage healthy growth and keep your barrels looking their best! You can find these at any garden center for around $12-$13 per 12-14 Oz container.
We recommend fertilizing when the following signs are present:
- Wilting or drooping leaves, stems, and flowers.
- Failure to produce blooms for prolonged periods of time.
- Shallow roots that lack new growth at their tips.
- If you do not fertilize, the barrel cactus will be unable to grow new blooms.
- The plant can develop shallow roots that lack growth at its tips if it is undernourished or water-deprived.
- Bare spots where needles have fallen from older branches may indicate a nutrient deficiency or overwatering problem.
If you notice these signs, fertilize once every three months until the cactus begins producing blooms again. This will help to encourage healthy growth and keep your barrels looking their best!
However, never over-fertilize a barrel because this can cause problems such as shallow roots that lack new growth at their tips or nutrient deficiencies.
Watering
The Barrel Cactus requires a moderate amount of water. We recommend watering once every three days, with the exception being during very hot weather or in dry climates.
We recommend watering when:
- Leaves are wilting and drooping
- No more blooms for prolonged periods of time
- Shallow roots that lack new growth at their tips
Water once every three days when the following signs are present; otherwise, water only during very hot weather or in dry climates.
If you notice these symptoms, make sure to water until they go away and continue watering once every three days thereafter, with the exception of during periods of very hot weather or if it is a dry climate.
Never over-water a barrel cactus because this can cause problems such as shallow roots that lack new growth at their tips or nutrient deficiencies.
Temperature
The Barrel Cactus is naturally found in hot, arid climates. They are able to survive during the cold month of winter if they’re kept indoors and away from drafts or sudden changes in temperature.
We recommend keeping the temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, but not warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit because this can cause a variety of issues including shallow roots and nutrient deficiencies.
If you notice these symptoms, try to keep your barrel cactus in a room with 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity
The Barrel Cactus thrives in humid climates. If you live in a dry or arid climate, it is recommended that you place your barrel cacti near other plants or create artificial humidity (using a pebble tray) to maintain the plant’s health.
In humid climates (such as Florida for example), we recommend keeping the humidity at 40-50% all year round. This can be done by placing your barrels near other plants or using artificial humidity like a pebble tray.
If you notice the symptoms listed above, try to create more humidity around it and keep it between 40-50% during the winter months.
Repotting
If you notice that your barrel cactus is root bound, it may be time for a repotting. This can be done by taking the plant out of its pot and slicing around the edges with a sharp knife to loosen up some roots before placing them back into fresh soil (or planting in new pots). We recommend repotting every two years for best results.
If the barrel cactus is root bound, you may need to repot it every two years for best results.
During mid-spring, we recommend that you inspect your plant’s roots and if they are showing signs of being too tight or dense in their pot, then it may be time to re-pot the barrel cactus.
Pruning
Pruning is a necessary part of the Barrel Cactus care process. This should be done during the winter months and only if you notice that your plant has grown too tall or wide for its pot. Pruning should always be kept to a minimum because it can lead to nutrient deficiencies, shallow roots at tips, wilting plants, and other problems.
We recommend pruning every two years for best results (only if it is necessary).
If you notice these symptoms, try to keep the plant’s height in mind and only cut back any extra growth if absolutely necessary because this can lead to nutrient deficiencies, shallow roots at tips, wilting plants, and other problems.
Growth rate
Barrel cactus has an average growth rate of 20-30 cm per year, but on very rare occasions, they may grow as much as 50cm in one year. This is dependent not only on the species and variety but also on the climate where it lives. In general, plants that are closer to the equator will experience a higher growth rate than those that are closer to the north and south poles.
The barrel cactus has a long taproot, which helps it access water in times of drought. It also can store up to six months’ worth of food inside its body for periods when there is no rain or other sources of moisture nearby. This collection process could take as much as three to four years.
Toxicity
The most toxic part of the barrel cactus is the fruit which can be fatal to humans, but not typically animals.
Pests and diseases
Barrel cacti are pest and disease-free plants. They only need water once a year, so watering is not an issue. In the wild, they can grow in poor quality soils which makes them hardy enough for cultivation anywhere you live! You may have to take care of some bugs such as ants or mealybugs but these pests are easy to find and remove.
