Plant Care Emory's Barrel Cactus

Emory's Barrel Cactus

Also known as

Coville's Barrel Cactus, Traveler's Friend and Emory

Taxonomy

Ferocactus emoryi
Ferocactus
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Emory's Barrel Cactus

💦 Water

How often to water your Emory's Barrel Cactus

Water needs for Emory's Barrel Cactus
0.5 cups
every 12

Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Emory's Barrel Cactus in your home

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

Emory's 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.

Emory's Barrel Cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Emory's Barrel Cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Ferocactus
💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Emory's 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.

Emory's Barrel Cactus Water Frequency →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Emory's 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 🏡.

Emory's Barrel Cactus Light Requirements →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus Edible? →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Cats →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Dogs →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Emory's 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.

Emory's Barrel Cactus Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus →

Best Pots for Emory's Barrel Cactus →

When and How to Successfully Repot Emory's Barrel Cactus →

What Are Healthy Emory's Barrel Cactus Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Emory's 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

Emory's Barrel Cactus is native to Southwestern United States and Mexico.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Emory's Barrel Cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Emory's Barrel Cactus Lifecycle →

Emory's Barrel Cactus Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Emory's Barrel Cactus →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🧐 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 Emory's 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 Emory's Barrel Cactus

Emory's Barrel Cactus

Emory's 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.

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