Ferocactus histrix
| Light | Full sun; very bright light year-round |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderately in the growing season; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Deep, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Best above freezing; tolerates brief light frost when dry (USDA zones 9–11) |
| Propagation | Seed (primary) |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Ferocactus histrix is a large, rounded barrel cactus from central Mexico, clad in stout yellowish spines and crowned with yellow flowers in season. It is one of the most widely grown barrel cacti, easily raised from seed, and has a long history of use in Mexico, where its pith was candied into a traditional sweet — giving rise to the common name barril de dulce ("candy barrel"). It is sometimes also called the electrode cactus.
Description
Ferocactus histrix forms a solitary, more or less spherical body that flattens somewhat at the top and can, with age, grow into a substantial barrel well over half a metre tall and broad. The body is a bluish- to grey-green, divided into many prominent ribs. Along each rib sit large woolly areoles bearing stiff, straight to slightly curved spines that range from yellowish to reddish-brown, with the central spines longer and more robust than the radials.
Funnel-shaped flowers open in a ring around the woolly crown, typically yellow and sometimes tinged reddish on the outer segments. They are followed by rounded fleshy fruits. Like most barrels, the species is slow but long-lived, and old specimens develop an imposing, heavily armed presence.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the high plateaus of central Mexico, where it grows on rocky slopes, grassland and open scrub, often in gritty or calcareous soils. It endures a climate of strong sun, seasonal summer rains and a long dry season, contracting and resting through the cooler, drier months.
Like the whole cactus family, Ferocactus histrix is listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade in wild-collected plants is regulated. Nursery-grown, seed-raised plants are common and entirely legal to own and trade; collecting from the wild is not.
Cultivation
Ferocactus histrix is a robust, rewarding barrel for anyone who can give it enough light. Grow it in full sun in a deep, very free-draining, mostly mineral mix that lets the strong root system run down. Water moderately and thoroughly through the warm growing season once the soil has dried, then reduce watering sharply and keep the plant dry and cool over winter — this rest encourages flowering and greatly reduces the risk of rot.
The species appreciates room to develop its root system, so repot into a taller container as it grows, always into fresh, gritty mix. Strong light is essential to keep the spines heavy and the body compact; shade produces soft, etiolated growth. See Watering for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the standard and easiest method. Sown on a warm, gritty surface and kept humid until they germinate, the seedlings are reliable if slow, and large batches are routinely raised this way for the trade. The species is typically solitary and does not readily offset, so vegetative propagation is uncommon. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual killer, from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or watering while cold; the body softens and discolours from the base or crown.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale, soft and elongated, with weaker spination.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the roots) and red spider mites (fine webbing, bronzed skin) are the common offenders. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Ferocactus — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Pests and diseases