If you’re looking for a cactus that is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, you’ve found it. Barrel cacti are relatively easy to care for, and they can withstand dry conditions and even periods of extreme heat.
There are several different types of barrel cactus, and they all have unique features that make them stand out in any garden or home. Learn more about how to grow and care for these cacti below!
CACTI ARE EASY TO GROW AND REQUIRE LITTLE CARE.
Cacti are easy to grow and require little care. They don’t need much water, but they do need a lot of sunlight. They also don’t require much soil or fertilizer.
You can quickly propagate the cactus by cutting off a piece of the stem and letting it dry for several days before planting it in the soil.
CACTI NEED BRIGHT, DIRECT SUNLIGHT YEAR-ROUND.
You can also find cacti that prefer partial shade. These are generally the kinds of plants grown by hobbyists, with many rare and unusual species. These types of cactus often need fewer hours of direct sunlight to survive, but they will not grow as quickly or as vigorously as the sun-loving varieties. In general, any cactus will need a minimum of 6 hours of bright, full sunlight per day for it to thrive.
Many people think that you can grow cacti indoors under fluorescent lights and artificial lighting sources. While it’s true that you can keep a potted cactus alive this way, it won’t grow very much at all. It might add an inch or two per year under these conditions rather than developing a foot every year if it was planted outdoors in bright light and given fertilizers regularly.
WATERING YOUR BARREL CACTUS.
How to water your barrel cactus:
- Water your barrel cactus during its growing season, which is spring and summer.
- Don’t water if the soil is moist.
- If the plant turns yellow or orange, it needs more water.
BARREL CACTUS REQUIRES VERY LITTLE WATER.
It would be best to only water the barrel cactus during the growing season. In winter, it will be dormant and require no water at all. It would be best if you also cared only for water when the soil is dry and then deeply and slowly until the water runs out of the drainage holes.
PLANTING YOUR BARREL CACTUS
Barrel cactus is native to the southwest United States. They are beautiful and slower growing than most cacti, making them easy to care for. Barrel cacti will grow in poor soil and drought but prefer slightly moist well-drained soil. Although they can be grown indoors, you will get a much larger plant if it is grown outdoors.
The barrel cactus can be grown in hardiness zones 8-11. If you live outside this area, they can still be planted as an annual or in a container, so they may be moved inside during the winter months when temperatures drop below freezing.
PLANT YOUR BARREL CACTUS IN SPRING WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER.
The best time to plant your barrel cactus is in the spring when the weather is warmer.
To keep the roots from burning, you should water them well before planting and then let them rest for a day or so.
You mustn’t plant barrel cactus if it is still cold outside, as this can harm them.
You’ll want to plant your barrel cactus in an area that gets direct sunlight but not all day long.
If possible, try planting your cactus in the evening so they won’t be exposed to too much heat at once!
FERTILIZE YOUR BARREL CACTUS FOR THE BEST GROWTH.
When fertilizing, be sure to use a fertilizer formulated for cacti. These can be found at your local gardening store or online. Avoid using too much nitrogen in the fertilizer. You want to choose something that has a low N and higher P (phosphorus) and K (potassium). If you have a giant barrel cactus, you may need to increase the fertilizer amounts slightly. It is better to start slow with the amount of fertilizer and only use more if necessary.
You can fertilize your barrel cactus outdoors in spring through fall using time-release pellets or apply liquid fertilizer every month during this period. If you have it indoors, apply liquid fertilizer every two weeks from spring through fall but no more than once per month during the winter months.
MOST TYPES OF CACTI REQUIRE SOIL SPECIALLY FORMULATED FOR GROWING SUCCULENTS.
Most types of cacti require soil specially formulated for growing succulents. A good cactus soil mix will be coarse and well-draining while retaining some moisture. If you don’t have a store-bought blend, you can make your own by mixing equal parts sand and peat moss or potting compost. You can add a bit of perlite to improve drainage if your soil tends to hold onto too much water.
Cactus soils are typically acidic, so it’s essential to use a pot with good drainage. If the water can’t drain out freely, the roots might rot in the stagnant water. Choose a pot that fits your cactus’ size – giving them too much space will result in water being held against the plant’s roots for too long, leading to rotting between watering times. Clay pots are not recommended since they tend to retain moisture for more extended periods and might cause root rot if watered frequently (or overwatered).
MULCH AROUND THE BASE OF YOUR CACTUS TO RETAIN MOISTURE IN THE SOIL, ESPECIALLY DURING WARM WEATHER.
Mulch is an organic material that is used as a soil cover. It helps retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect roots from extremes in soil temperature. Mulch can also provide nutrients to the soil.
PRUNING YOUR BARREL CACTUS
- We like our barrel cactus because it’s big and bright, but we don’t have a lot of room in our apartment. It’s also hanging out on the sill of our bedroom window, where we spend most of our time sleeping. When we’re not sleeping (because that just happened), we’re up there watching movies or playing games. I guess it looks nice from down below, but you can’t tell what it looks like from inside the apartment; the only way to see the plant is from outside, which makes us feel like we’ve got this thing growing in an alien jungle on top of a mutant animal.
- If you love your barrel cactus, you should let it grow as long as possible and then get rid of it when it gets too big. The only thing that ruined this strategy was talking to people about how beautiful it was—they usually want to cut or trim their barrel cactus back right away before letting it grow too long! Are these people insane? That would be great advice if they’d ever talked to me about my barrel cactus outside my home!
- But even though getting rid of my barrel cactus will make things better for everyone except me, I’m going to do what everyone else told me anyway—prune back the sucker!
If you follow these instructions, you’ll be able to grow a beautiful barrel cactus in no time at all.
When you follow these instructions, you will be able to grow a beautiful barrel cactus in no time at all.
Growing a barrel cactus is easy. After following the instructions, you will be proud of your thriving barrel cactus.
Learning how to grow barrel cactus can be fun! If you follow these instructions and our advice, learning how to grow barrel cactus can save you money.