How to Grow the Golden Barrel Cactus? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Care Methods
How do you grow a golden barrel cactus? The golden barrel cactus originates from the dry, scorching desert regions stretching from San Luis Potosi to Hidalgo in central Mexico. It is one of the most charming varieties among cacti, relatively easy to grow, and an ideal ornamental plant for urban and home landscaping. Now let's take a look together at how to grow a golden barrel cactus!
Growing Conditions for the Golden Barrel Cactus
The golden barrel cactus loves abundant sunlight and needs at least 6 hours of direct sun exposure every day. In summer it should be shaded appropriately, but not overly shaded, otherwise the body will elongate and its ornamental value will be reduced. The suitable growing temperature is 25°C during the day and 10-13°C at night. A suitable day-night temperature difference can speed up the growth of the golden barrel cactus.
In winter, the golden barrel cactus should be placed in a greenhouse or in a sunny spot indoors, with the temperature kept at 8-10°C. If the winter temperature is too low, unsightly yellow spots will appear on the body.
Propagation Methods for the Golden Barrel Cactus
The golden barrel cactus is commonly propagated by seed sowing, offsets grafting, and cuttings.
1. Sowing method: Seeds harvested in the same year give a high germination rate. In spring or autumn, select plump golden barrel seeds (black), soak them to promote germination for two days, and then sow them in the potting soil. They sprout in about 7-10 days. When the offsets grow to 1 cm, thin the seedlings to a spacing of 5×5 cm. Once they reach 4 cm, they can be planted out, one per small pot. 30-40 days after germination, when the seedlings are the size of a grain of rice or a mung bean, they can be transplanted or grafted onto a rootstock to speed up growth.
2. Offsets grafting method: This involves grafting seedlings that have been grown for more than 3 months onto a tender Hylocereus undatus rootstock to speed up growth. When the scion has grown to a certain size or the rootstock can no longer support it, it can be cut off, the wound dried, and then planted as a cutting in a pot. In a fertile soil and well-ventilated environment, seedlings grown without grafting also grow quickly. After potting, whether seedlings or grafted offsets, they should be placed in semi-shade, avoiding direct sunlight. If the body does not shrivel after 7-10 days, they have taken root successfully.
3. Cutting method: This is the most commonly used propagation method and can be done in all four seasons. First cut a mature small piece from the mother plant, place it in a shaded spot for half a day, and then insert it as a cutting; this is the key to success. The cutting medium should be a material with good aeration that both retains and drains water well, such as perlite, vermiculite, or river sand. After inserting, do not water; just mist to make the sand slightly moist.
4. Grafting method: Using grafting for propagation can promote growth and bring flowering forward. During the growing season, grafting can be done at any time except during hot, humid periods when the cut surface is prone to rot, but September is the most suitable. The rootstock chosen is the three-ribbed cactus (Hylocereus trigonus), which has strong compatibility with the golden barrel cactus. When grafting, first make a horizontal cut at an appropriate height on the rootstock, then make a horizontal cut on the lower part of the small scion. Immediately after cutting, press the scion onto the cut surface of the rootstock (making sure that at least part of the vascular bundles in the center of the scion and rootstock are in close contact), then tie it vertically with fine thread, pot and all, so that the upper and lower cut surfaces are in close contact. After grafting, place the pot in a slightly shaded spot, cover it with plastic film to maintain air humidity, and the binding can be removed after 3 to 7 days.
Preparation for Growing the Golden Barrel Cactus
1. Potting soil selection: It requires loose soil with moderate fertility, neutral or slightly alkaline pH, and rich in organic matter. Bagged soil is available on the market, or you can mix your own.
① 3 parts loam, 2 parts leaf mold or peat soil, 1 part sifted bone meal, 4 parts coarse sand,
② 3 parts coarse sand, 3 parts garden soil, 2 parts leaf mold, 1 part calcareous material, 1 part broken brick or tile, with a little superphosphate, charcoal granules, or bone meal added.
2. Pot selection: Breathable clay pots are best, followed by ceramic and porcelain pots. The pot size depends on the body of the golden barrel cactus, with a gap of 3-4 cm between the body and the pot wall. For a larger body, the gap can be appropriately larger.
3. Light and temperature should be suitable: The golden barrel cactus loves abundant sunlight and should be kept in a sunny spot during the growing season. In summer it prefers partial shade, as direct strong light can easily scorch it. If kept in a low-light environment for a long time, the body will elongate, lose vitality, and decrease in ornamental value. In winter it should also be placed in a sunny spot indoors, with room temperature preferably kept at 8°C to 10°C. It must not go below 4°C.
4. Water and fertilizer should be moderate: In spring and early summer, water appropriately and apply a small amount of diluted decomposed liquid fertilizer and compound chemical fertilizer as a top dressing. When the temperature in midsummer reaches above 38°C, the plant enters its summer dormancy period; at this time, control watering and stop fertilizing. Normal water and fertilizer management can resume once the weather cools in autumn. In winter, watering must be strictly controlled; just keep the potting soil from becoming overly dry.