Golden barrel cactus

Kroenleinia grusonii · Family Cactaceae

Also known as: mother-in-law's cushion, echinocactus grusonii, barrel cactus

Light: Full sun
Watering: Every 21 days
Difficulty: Easy
Pet-safe: No, keep it away from cats and dogs

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Care

Where to put it

The sunniest windowsill or a conservatory.

Light

Full sun all day for strong golden spines.

Watering

Water sparingly when bone dry, roughly every three weeks in summer; not in winter.

About the plant

The golden barrel cactus is a round cactus with strong golden spines, one of the best known in the world. It grows slowly and can exceed 50 cm across after many years. It needs lots of sun.

Origin

Native to central Mexico, where it grows on dry, rocky slopes.

What it likes

Full sun
Rare watering
Cactus compost

What it dislikes

Too much water
Shade
Damp cold

Did you know?

Though common in pots, the species is endangered in the wild, partly due to the building of a dam in Mexico.