Barrel Cactus plants have swiftly become a widespread success, alluring decorators and also indoor plant enthusiasts alike to become one of the most prominent houseplants for sale right now.
The Barrel Cactus is really a member of the Cactus family. Even though Barrel Cactus is the popular name, the official scientific name is Echinocactus grusonii. The scientific name helps people separate one plant from another one in the Cactus family.
The Barrel Cactus can prosper in a lot of indoor environments. Through concentrating on the right combination of lighting, watering, temperature along with humidity, you can help your Barrel Cactus thrive inside. These plants are really an ideal pick for growing inside your home. With the best mix of lighting, watering, temperature and also humidity, you can help your Barrel Cactus thrive.
The best lighting for Barrel Cactus
Adequate lighting is one of the most important keys to raising a flourishing Barrel Cactus. This plant prefers bright indirect light. In your house, the most ideal way to give this bright indirect light is a sunny window. These plants perform better with at the very least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
It’s also recommended to minimize direct sunlight – especially during the extreme summer – to avoid burning the plant. And in the case that your plant does not get sufficient light, it may cause slow growth, droopiness, or dropped leaves.
Your plants will most likely always try to grow towards your space’s source of light. You can slowly rotate your Barrel Cactus plant pot about a quarter turn weekly. Rotating each week will really help keep your plant looking full and in good shape. This step also stops your plant from leaning towards the source of light. Getting the right lighting balance will go a long way to making your plant happy. It’s not a surprise that the majority of plant owners worry that their plants may not be receiving adequate sunlight.
What’s the most ideal amount of water for my Barrel Cactus?
Learning about how much water your Barrel Cactus truly wants will help you raise a better plant. And Barrel Cactus plants want to be kept on the dry side. This means to only water infrequently when your plant appears like it wants water, every few weeks.
Whenever in doubt about watering, it’s optimal to decide to wait. Just remember – your Barrel Cactus always would prefer to be on the drier side. When it is time to water your plant, make sure you provide adequate water to saturate through the soil. Filtered water is consistently better if it’s conveniently available to you. This is particularly the case if you have particularly hard or heavily-chlorinated water which may damage your plant.
Tips to avoid Barrel Cactus overwatering
You really should stay away from overwatering your Barrel Cactus. More than 90% of houseplants that do not survive are due to overwatering.
Overwatering can bring in pests or fungal diseases that can kill your plant. How can I stop myself from overwatering my Barrel Cactus? Be sure to wait until the top inch of dirt is entirely dry between waterings.
Placing your plant in a planter containing drainage holes and a tray ensures run off water can properly drain. By letting water to go through the planter, your Barrel Cactus roots will probably stay drier than if the water was stuck in the pot. Without appropriate drainage, your plant could likely see pests and fungi as the root system sits in standing water.
How to prevent under watering Barrel Cactus plants
Underwatering your Barrel Cactus plant can also lead to issues. It’s encouraged that you water the plant once the top inch of soil becomes completely dry. Your timing doesn’t have to be exact, and your plant can be a bit flexible on timing. You may notice your plant drying out as it makes an effort to retain moisture if you forget to water it consistently.
Barrel Cactus temperature
Like many houseplants, Barrel Cactus plants prefer average indoor temperatures. This makes them fantastic plants for the house. If your location experiences seasonal changes in temperature, it’s better to avoid areas that could be prone to cold drafts or extreme heat. Your plant will likely stay healthy and grow if maintained in a place that’s constant at all times.
This means avoiding locations such as drafty windows or near doors used throughout cold winter months. By keeping a consistent interior temperature, your Barrel Cactus plant will have a long, happy lifespan.
Best humidity for Barrel Cactus
These types of plants are part of the Cactus family and want environments with average humidity, making all of them optimal houseplants for homes and offices. If the moisture in your home or office is comfortable to you, your new plant will probably do well.
How to maintain moisture for Barrel Cactus plants
Since Barrel Cactus plants favor regular humidity, it really should not be difficult to make your home feel welcoming to your plant. Having said that, if you live in a dry desert climate or have very harsh winters, you could spot the moisture drop to a barely ideal range.
In case you end up in a drier setting, you can get a relatively cheap spray bottle to mist your plant’s leaves. Additionally, you might want to consider buying a humidifier to add cool mist to the air for your and your plant’s advantage.
Keeping steady humidity will keep your plant healthy and encourage new growth of your Barrel Cactus plant.
Barrel Cactus fertilizer
Fertilizing your Barrel Cactus may offer additional nutrients to let it grow stronger. It’s best to fertilize your plant at the beginning of the spring growth season. Timing your fertilizer schedule to the growing season will most likely let your plant as it readies for its annual growth phase. This could be the most ideal moment to see if you should relocate your plant to a larger container if it looks to be getting too big. You could even use this moment to change out old or compacted soil to encourage new growth for the summer season ahead.
Is Barrel Cactus toxic to cats and dogs?
Barrel Cactus plants are not safe for cats, dogs, or other pets. The poisonous attributes of these kinds of plants should make you take another look if the Barrel Cactus is ideal for your home if you have any pets around that have a tendency of ingesting any kind of houseplants you may likely buy.
What to search for in spotting the right Barrel Cactus at the plant store
Hopefully, our guide on PottedPlants.org has you well readied to look after your plant. At your neighborhood greenhouse, you should manage to get medium Barrel Cactus plants that are 7″-10″ in height to take home.
There are a couple things to look for to make sure you buy a plant that’s healthy. Keep an eye out for leaf damage, pests in the soil, or other signs of plant damage. Performing this extra check will probably really help ensure you’re getting a strong and healthy plant. Be sure to give your plant time to adjust to its new home – don’t forget, this is a big move for your new houseplant. It should adapt if you provide the appropriate care as detailed by this quick guide.