Maybe you will get lucky and be able to get it to flower! In order to do so, you will need to make every effort to replicate the native habitat of the cactus. It is however pretty difficult to get this ball-shaped succulent to flower when kept indoors. The Golden Ball Cactus, in its native habitat, will yield cute yellow flowers, usually in the summer. 75 degrees Fahrenheit will be the maximum to which it should be exposed. In terms of the upper range, the cactus will not be comfortable with excessively high temperatures. Keep it at over 40 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it doesn’t get damaged by cold. The Barrel Cactus tolerates a good range of temperature but it certainly will not like frost. The ideal temperature range for a Golden Barrel Cactus is 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit (10-21 degrees Celsius). But, a couple of weeks sitting in a pool of water likely will! And don’t be tempted if you are going on vacation to leave the pot sitting in a large plate of water.Ī couple of weeks without water will not harm your cactus. Make sure too that your pot has a couple of drainage holes at the bottom. There are products on the market advertised as “cactus soil” although it can be more fun to make your own! You can throw in additional stones if you wish to. To help with drainage and to continue to battle the threat of the dreaded root rot, your Barrel Cactus needs just the right soil.Ī gritty blend of potting mix and coarse sand will do. You can pick up the more frequent watering schedule in the spring. You may find that the cactus needs only watered once a month at this point. As the cactus goes into a natural resting period, growth will slow and the watering needs will reduce.

This watering schedule will need to be eased up over the winter months. Water once a week, when the soil is dried out, to ensure the cactus gets enough water but is not exposed to the risk of root rot, which can be fatal for the plant. If you water your cactus and see the water sitting or “pooling” in the soil, then you are either watering too much or have a drainage problem. The roots on the Barrel Cactus need to be protected from overwatering, excessive sogginess, and dampness. The advice for the Barrel Cactus and many other cacti is the same when it comes to watering schedules and tips. To compensate, make sure they get good indirect light until they are well established. Keep them out of direct sunlight completely until they are mature. This is particularly true for young plants. This could scorch your cactus and also cause unsightly burned patches on the flesh. Make sure however to not let it sit in the window if you are experiencing a heatwave or particularly intense light. To get maximum growth on this slow-growing cactus, 6 hours of direct sunlight per day would be best. Keep it in a sunny window during the growing season and it will be very happy.

The Barrel Cactus loves a good level of sunlight. Ensure it doesn’t sit in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) in Winter. The Barrel Cactus grows best in temperatures between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit (10-21 degrees Celsius). Ensure the soil is dried out on the top before watering again. Water once a week during the growing season in Spring and Summer. Provide well-draining soil using general potting mix, sand, and stones. Make sure it is in a sunny window such as a south-facing one, but also protect it if the sun is particularly strong. The Golden Barrel Cactus needs around 6 hours of direct sunlight to thrive.

Let’s check out what to do with this little ball of fun.

Native to Mexico and the surrounding southern states of the USA, you will need to adopt a care process that helps the Barrel Cactus feel like it is in its home environment. The spikes can be sharp though, and if you don’t fancy that, you can opt for the spineless version! Echinocactus grusonii, also known as the Golden Ball Cactus, and even sometimes called the Mother In Law’s Cushion, the Barrel Cactus is a funky globe-shaped succulent.Ī deep green color, the Barrel Cactus gets its “Golden Ball” pseudonym due to the yellow spikes that grow over it.

Golden barrel cactus