Ferocactus histrix or Candy Barrel Cactus

Care of the cactus Ferocactus histrix or Candy Barrel Cactus

The genus Ferocactus, family Cactaceae, comprises 30 species of large cacti native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Some species are: Ferocactus histrix, Ferocactus glaucescens, Ferocactus flavovirens, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Ferocactus alamosanus, Ferocactus latispinus, Ferocactus schwarzii, Ferocactus hamatacanthus, Ferocactus emoryi, Ferocactus gracilis, Ferocactus stainesii, Ferocactus peninsulae, Ferocactus robustus, Ferocactus wislizenii.

Common names: Candy Barrel Cactus, Mexican barrel cactus, Candy Cactus, Electrode Cactus. This species is native to Central-Eastern Mexico.

They are cacti with a globular body with a flattened apex that lengthen with age and reach 70 cm (27.55") in height and 30 cm (11.8") in diameter. When they are young, their color is light green and when they are adults they are grayish or bluish. They have up to 25 sharp ribs and oval woolly areolas. The radial spines (between 7 and 12) are curved and measure 4 cm (1.57") while; the central spines (1 to 4) are straight and thicker. The flowers are yellow with red tones and are funnel-shaped. They bloom during the summer.

These slow-growing plants are used in rockery, in cactus and succulent gardens, and in pots when the specimens are young.

The Ferocactus histrix can be grown in full sun or light shade exposure. The temperature should not be lower than 4 ºC (39.2 ºF) for adult specimens and not lower than 7 ºC (44.6 ºF) for young ones.

The soil can be a mixture of 50% leaf mulch and 50% siliceous coarse sand or a commercial cactus substrate with 25% coarse sand.

They are very resistant to drought. Water moderately in spring every 15 days, every 8-9 days in summer and every 20-25 days in autumn and do not water in winter.

They do not need fertilizers or pruning.

They are cacti resistant to pests but sensitive to overwatering.

They propagate from seeds sown in spring; sometimes they produce suckers that can be rooted.