Ferocactus fordii
| Light | Bright light to full sun; some protection from the harshest afternoon sun when grown in pots |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; allow to dry fully between waterings, keep dry through winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed (primary); occasionally from offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Ferocactus fordii is a slow-growing barrel cactus native to the fog-influenced coastal deserts of the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. It stays modest in size for a barrel cactus, forming a solitary grey-green globe ringed with stout ribs and hooked central spines, and it rewards patient growers with showy rose-pink to rose-purple flowers. Its manageable size and neat symmetry make it a favourite for pot culture among collectors.
Description
Ferocactus fordii typically forms a solitary, spherical to short-cylindrical body reaching around 20–40 cm in diameter — occasionally to about 50 cm in old plants — and usually staying less than 40 cm tall. The body is glaucous grey-green to blue-green and divided into numerous low, tuberculate ribs. Each areole bears a spreading fan of slender radial spines and several stouter central spines, the principal central being flattened and distinctly hooked at the tip — a classic feature of many barrel cacti.
Flowers appear near the crown in spring, funnel-shaped and about 4 cm across, in shades of rose-pink to rose-purple with paler margins. These are followed by small fleshy fruits. Compared with the giant desert barrels of the genus, F. fordii is a restrained, slow plant that stays a manageable size for many years.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Baja California Peninsula, ranging down the Pacific side from around San Quintín south to the vicinity of Guerrero Negro, and it also occurs on offshore islands such as Isla San Martín and Isla Natividad. It grows on gravelly and rocky slopes and coastal flats within the fog-influenced deserts of the peninsula's western side. In habitat it endures long dry spells relieved chiefly by coastal fog and sparse seasonal rain, rooting in gritty, sharply drained mineral soils among low desert scrub.
Like the whole cactus family, Ferocactus fordii is listed under CITES Appendix II, which regulates international trade. Nursery-propagated plants are readily available and legal to own and trade; collecting from the wild is neither necessary nor permitted.
Cultivation
Ferocactus fordii is an undemanding plant given the two things it insists on: strong light and sharp drainage. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot only a little larger than the plant, in bright light or full sun. In the hottest climates a little shade from fierce afternoon sun keeps the skin from scorching, but too little light causes weak, distorted growth.
Water thoroughly once the soil has dried completely during the warm growing season, then allow it to dry again before the next watering. Through winter keep the plant cool and essentially dry to prevent rot and to encourage flowering the following spring. Because it is naturally slow, it seldom needs frequent repotting; refresh the mix every few years and handle the spines with care. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method. Sow onto a warm, gritty mineral surface kept humid until germination, then grow the seedlings on slowly with good light and careful watering. The species is largely solitary, so offsets for vegetative propagation are uncommon; where they do occur they can be removed and rooted once calloused. See Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the most common cause of loss, almost always from overwatering or a slow-draining mix; the base softens and browns.
- Etiolation — insufficient light makes the body pale and stretch, losing its tight globular shape and even spination.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff among the spines and roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the usual culprits. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Ferocactus — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets