How much sunlight does my Candy barrel cactus need?

Candy 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 🏡.

How much humidity does Candy barrel cactus like?

Candy 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.

What type of soil should I use for my Candy barrel cactus?

Candy 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!

Should I fertilize my Candy barrel cactus?

Candy 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!

Does Candy barrel cactus go dormant?

It’s common for Candy 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.

Which region is Candy barrel cactus native to?

Candy barrel cactus is native to Southwestern United States and Mexico .

Does Candy barrel cactus produce flowers?

Candy barrel cactus produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

What is the growth pattern for Candy barrel cactus?

Candy barrel cactus grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

1/10

Candy barrel cactus

Q: How often should I water my Candy barrel cactus?

Candy 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.

5.0 out of 5 (2 experiences)

Survivor

Also known as

Fishhook barrel cactus, Arizona barrel cactus, Southwestern barrel cactus, cactus and fish hook barrel cactus

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Ferocactus wislizeni

Genus

Ferocactus

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Candy barrel cactus

Water

How often to water your Candy barrel cactus

Candy 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Candy barrel cactus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Candy barrel cactus: 1ft from a window

Candy 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.

Candy barrel cactus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Candy barrel cactus in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Candy barrel cactus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Candy 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 Candy barrel cactus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Humidity

Soil

Fertilizer

Dormancy

Native Region

Flowers

Growth Pattern

Care Summary for Candy barrel cactus

Candy 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

Survivor 1

@Annika

1 Plants

70 XP

Perth, Western Australia

07/18/2021

This plant is easy to look after, hard to kill, or damage from neglect, pretty and unique.
Although I can imagine it would be hard to change it’s pot due to the spikes. A bonus is you don’t have to water it at all during winter as it hibernates.

Survivor