Growing Golden Barrel Cactus | Best Care Tips and Practices

Looking After Your Golden Barrel Cacti

Golden Barrel cacti are no different than the rest of the Cactaceae family in terms of their hardiness and adaptability. 

These cacti are very low-maintenance and usually make do with very limited resources. Since their natural habitats are the drier regions of North America, they are used to thriving in high-temperature conditions with little water. 

Tough and Self-Sustaining

The care required to grow a Golden Barrel cactus may be less than most but is very specific. These plants don’t require constant personal attention, but the right attention. 

Factors Influencing The Cactus’ Growth

If any of the parameters involved in growing a Golden Barrel are not attended to properly, it can spell danger for your splendid plant.

These parameters include climate, exposure to sunlight, soil, watering practices, and even positioning of the plant. In short, we can tell you that growing your Echinocactus Grusonii is not rocket science, but just requires you to get some things right. 

To begin with, let’s look at how a Golden Barrel cactus usually starts, a seed.

Bringing Up Your Own Golden Barrel 

This amazing cactus is very easy to propagate. There are two simple ways you can go about growing a new one. 

First off, you can easily procure seeds from a local shop. Simply plant the seed shallowly in a planter with a well-draining cactus mix (more about soil later!) and watch it gradually grow under your supervision and care. 

The alternate method is using the offshoots a golden barrel cactus produces. While growing, most of them spawn several little ‘pups’ around them. You can cut one of them, wait for it to callus, and then plant it in a separate planter. 

The ensuing processes are going to be the same no matter what you start with.

The Right Conditions 

Let’s face it, this is one of the most important considerations when planning to grow a new plant. Growing a plant in unfavorable climatic conditions is a guarantee for future complications. 

When we talk about the best climate to grow a golden barrel in, we need to consider their natural habitats. These desert cacti love being outdoors in dry, high-temperature atmospheres.

Naturally, they also enjoy as much sunlight as they can get. 

If you live in a region where sunlight is uncommon, or you are trying to grow the cactus indoors, you will need to ensure that the plant gets as much sunlight as possible. You can also consider investing in a grow light for your plant’s optimal growth. 

Positioning Your Golden Barrel 

These magnificent plants can grow up to 5 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter. Given this and its majestic spines, it’s important to place it in a safe spot. Just remember to take into account how massive these plants can grow up to be. 

The Best Climate 

Another aspect to consider is your local climate. Ideally, you want to place the plant where it can get as much sun as possible. This is especially important if you receive limited sunlight. 

Also, you will have to protect your plant from rain. If you live in a region where you receive lots of rain, we would recommend keeping your cactus indoors and perhaps using a grow light to boost its growth.

Best Soil For Golden Barrel Cactus

Most cacti require as little contact with water as possible. They tend to store their water from the uppermost layer of the soil and use it when needed. Thus the Golden Barrel cactus also needs soil that doesn’t retain water. A well-draining or fast-draining soil is its natural preference. 

You can also go for a good cactus mix as an alternative, or as an additional layer to the well-draining soil. 

Drainage Holes Are Your Cactus’ Friends

To ensure proper drainage, you can start by getting a planter with drainage holes. In case you are using a pot without drainage holes or you’ve planted your cactus outdoors, ensure you are using rocky, draining soil.

You will have to ensure that the soil maintains proper drainage, and also provides ample nourishment to the cactus. Especially in the case of Golden Barrel cacti, you will need to use soil that includes all the right trace elements.

In general, cacti love a good combination of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus for proper development. 

Watering, But Sparingly

Your Golden Barrel can tend to be a little fussy in terms of water requirements. One small misstep, and you will have to use some elbow grease to get the plant back on track. 

First of all, this plant will not appreciate any water retention. Golden Barrels hate getting their feet wet. In most cases, retained moisture will end up subjecting it to root rot which then has a direct effect on the plant as a whole. 

If you have a planter with drainage holes, you can use methods like deep watering, since the excess water will have a way out. When planted outdoors, you will have to water the plant sparingly, just enough to get the uppermost layers of the soil wet. 

‘Soak-and-Dry’

Just remember to water the plant only if it is completely dry. You can quickly perform a soil inspection with your fingers. If you feel that the surface soil is parched, go forward with the watering. Avoid watering too close to the plant. 

Water The Roots, Not The Plant!

Also, any topical watering methods, such as misting or spraying should be avoided. The surface of the plant should be dry at all times. Any moisture will again subject them to rot and they will end up dead, discolored, and/or mushy. 

Requirements Vary

In the winters, the plant can go a month or two without water. However, during the summers and the spring, you’ll have to attend to your plant’s H2O needs frequently. In most cases, you’ll have to water the plant every week, since the soil dries fairly quickly.

In the spring season, with regular watering and care, you’ll be able to see the plant blossom crowning flowers on top of its spherical body. 

Fertilizing Your Echinocactus Grusonii

Fertilizers can be of great importance to the healthy growth of any plant, cacti or not. The Golden Barrel cactus is a naturally tough plant that grows in less fertile areas. As such, it doesn’t need external nourishment. 

In some cases, good soil with a cactus mix may suffice. 

A Little Fertilizer Does A World Of Good

However, there is no debate over the fact that a little fertilization can do the cactus a world of good in terms of its health and growth.

As mentioned above, like most cacti, the Golden Barrel loves a good combo of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium). 

Since it’s so resilient, you will need to fertilize your cactus only once a year. Ideally, it should be fertilized at the onset of spring to help it bloom and even produce fruit!

Although, we must issue one caveat here. You should always use the fertilizer very judiciously. Any more than needed, and it will stunt the growth of the plant. 

Protecting Your Golden Barrel Cactus

Even after taking all the right steps, your beloved golden ball can be prone to some diseases.

Some of these diseases or conditions can be easily diagnosed. This includes any external rot, yellowing, black scars, tissue damage, and even discoloration. These conditions can ensue if you do not water your cactus properly.

Too much moisture can lead to rot and scarring. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can lead to your cactus losing its bright green color. Discolored whitish patches and yellowing are early signs of this. 

However, some problems that your cactus might be facing cannot be diagnosed early. This includes diseases like pythium rot, root rot, and other insect-borne diseases. Pythium rot subjects the roots of the plant to rot, gradually going upwards and attacking the plant’s stem. Its symptoms can only be seen when it is too late. 

Prevention Is The Best Defense

When it comes to insect-borne diseases, you will have to do most of the work manually. Removing any larvae and harmful foreign elements will help the cactus restore itself to its prime. 

The most important thing you can do is to use high-quality draining soil that nourishes the plant. If you get proper drainage through your soil, the risk of water-related diseases is lowered considerably. Not to mention, precise watering protocols are key,

The Takeaway

The Golden Barrel cactus is a plant you’ll find in every cactus lover’s garden, in every xeriscape – thanks to its easy growth pattern and the grace it adds to any environment. These bright plants are also very easy to propagate and make thoughtful gifts for special occasions. 

This tough cactus handles most of its growth itself and requires only a little assistance from you to bloom every spring. You might face some hurdles along the way, but now that you know how to care for your Golden Barrel cactus, we hope you are well equipped to tackle any problems.