Plant Care Blue Barrel Cactus

Blue Barrel Cactus

5.0 out of 5 (8 experiences)

Blue Barrel Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Blue Barrel Cactus has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily

Taxonomy

Ferocactus glaucescens
Ferocactus
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Blue Barrel Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Blue Barrel Cactus

Water needs for Blue Barrel Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Blue Barrel Cactus needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Blue Barrel Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Blue Barrel Cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Blue Barrel Cactus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Blue Barrel Cactus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Blue Barrel Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Blue Barrel Cactus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Blue Barrel Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Blue Barrel Cactus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Blue Barrel Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BlueBarrelCactus
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Blue Barrel Cactus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Blue Barrel Cactus →

Benefits of Growing Blue Barrel Cactus →

Common Blue Barrel Cactus Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Blue Barrel Cactus →

Outdoor Care Guide for Blue Barrel Cactus →


💦 Water Needs

Blue Barrel Cactus thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Blue Barrel Cactus Water Frequency →

Blue Barrel Cactus Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Blue Barrel Cactus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Blue Barrel Cactus Light Requirements →

Blue Barrel Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Blue Barrel Cactus is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Blue Barrel Cactus Edible? →

Blue Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Blue Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Blue Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Blue Barrel Cactus prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Blue Barrel Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Blue Barrel Cactus is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Blue Barrel Cactus →

Best Pots for Blue Barrel Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Blue Barrel Cactus →

What Are Healthy Blue Barrel Cactus Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Blue Barrel Cactus grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Blue Barrel Cactus →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Blue Barrel Cactus to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Blue Barrel Cactus is native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.


🌸 Flowers
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern
🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Blue Barrel Cactus can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Blue Barrel Cactus →


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Blue Barrel Cactus. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for Blue Barrel Cactus

Blue Barrel Cactus

Blue Barrel Cactus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Blue Barrel Cactus has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 3
Blue Barrel Cactus has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 1
@Baileymezinger avatar
@@Baileymezinger
leaf-1 11 Plants
xp 372 XP
globe Fremont, OH
09/09/2021

Plant lives on my shelf with little sun. Still going strong.

Survivor Survivor
@Plant. avatar
@@Plant.
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 60 XP
08/28/2021

It is really easy to take care of and my one even bloomed a beautiful flower although it only lasted for a day.

Blooms easily Blooms easily

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