What are the care methods for the golden barrel cactus? Do these few things and it will thrive
The golden barrel cactus belongs to the Cactaceae family and is a perennial succulent plant. It flowers from June to October; generally only a 30-year-old mother ball can flower and set seed. Next, let us take a look at what care methods there are for the golden barrel cactus.
Light: When cultivating the golden barrel cactus, you should meet its demand for sunlight as much as possible. Apart from being brought indoors for the winter, it must be placed in a spot with ample sunlight all day in spring, summer and autumn. If the golden barrel cactus is kept indoors for a long time, it will affect its body color and spine growth, the ball will become deformed and abnormal, and it will lose its ornamental value. In winter, when the golden barrel cactus is brought indoors, it should be placed on a sunny windowsill; after a period of time, turn the pot so that all parts of the ball receive light evenly. During the intense direct sun of midsummer, it should be appropriately shaded. The author's method is to cover the upper half of the golden barrel cactus with a colored plastic bag to protect the downy hairs on the top of the ball from rain, then cover the ball together with the pot with a large plastic bag and place it in the spot outdoors with the longest sunlight exposure. During the high temperatures of midsummer, remove the large plastic bag to avoid stuffy dampness inside the bag causing the ball to rot. After removing the bag, with the pot and ball in a ventilated environment, the ball grows well.
Watering: Although the golden barrel cactus is drought-tolerant, it does not mean it needs no water. Some golden barrel cacti never grow large, or even shrink, which is related to not being watered for a long time. During the growing periods in spring and autumn, the golden barrel cactus should be given sufficient water, and during the dormant periods in winter and summer, watering should be restricted. In the early growth stage, water once every 4 or 5 days or once a week, watering from the edge of the pot, preferably at 9 or 10 in the morning or 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Tap water is best left to stand for 2 days before watering. From late April to June, the golden barrel cactus's water demand increases; water once in the morning and once in the evening, and water thoroughly. During the plum rains in June, be careful to prevent the potting soil from becoming too wet, which can cause root rot. In July and August, the golden barrel cactus enters summer dormancy, and watering should be restricted. From late September to October, the golden barrel cactus enters another growing period, so water once every 3 or 4 days. In November, the growth of the golden barrel cactus tends to stall, and it can be watered once every 10 days. In December, the golden barrel cactus enters dormancy and may not be watered, in order to enhance its cold resistance.
Fertilizing: In spring, apply thin fertilizer frequently, once a week. In May and June, once every 4 or 5 days, and the concentration can be slightly higher. During the high temperatures of midsummer, do not fertilize. In September and October, fertilize once a week, and from November to the following spring, do not fertilize. For fertilizer, use decomposed poultry or fish meat residues or poultry manure, diluted with water before application. It is best to apply at 9-10 in the morning or after 5 in the afternoon, and water again one day after fertilizing.
Potting soil: It should be loose, moderately fertile, neutral or slightly acidic in pH, and rich in organic matter. Bagged soil is available on the market, or you can mix it yourself: 1) 3 parts loam, 2 parts leaf mold or peat soil, 1 part sieved 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 bricks or tiles, with a small amount of superphosphate, charcoal granules or bone meal added.
Pots: Breathable clay pots are best, followed by ceramic pots and porcelain pots. The size of the pot depends on the ball of the golden barrel cactus, with a gap of 3-4 cm between the ball and the pot wall. If the ball is large, the gap can be appropriately larger.
Planting: The best time is when its winter dormancy has ended and it has not yet begun to grow. The next best time is during its summer dormancy. Specific steps: cover the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with a tile or broken pot piece, fill in 1/4-1/3 broken tiles, bricks and stones, dead branches and other drainage materials, then fill in 1/4-1/3 potting soil. Trim off part of the root system, place the golden barrel cactus in the center of the pot, bury its root crown with soil, gently shake the pot so that the soil fully contacts the roots, press the soil around the roots firmly with your hands, then spread a layer of coarse gravel on top to resist the washing effect of watering. There is no need to water; place it indoors until it starts growing, then water.
Repotting: The timing of repotting is the same as for planting, once a year or every other year. First prepare a pot one size larger and fresh potting soil, take the ball out of the old pot, remove part of the old soil, and trim off some dead roots and rotten roots, then let it dry before potting. The operation is the same as for planting. In addition, because it is difficult to repot when the ball is too large, you can remove part of the old soil and add fresh potting soil. After changing the soil, press it firm, then spread a layer of coarse gravel on top; there is no need to water.
Cold protection: The golden barrel cactus is not cold-tolerant. When the temperature drops to about 5°C, you can move the golden barrel cactus indoors to a sunny spot, keep the potting soil dry, and be careful to prevent cold wind from blowing on it.
The above is the entire content of my summary of what the care methods for the golden barrel cactus are. I hope this article can help everyone. Please also continue to follow us.