Ferocactus glaucescens (DC.) Britton & Rose - Ferrocactus
Synonyms: Echinocactus glaucescens
Family: Cactaceae
Pot diameter:5.5cm.
This is a species of cactus native to east-central Mexico, where it grows on sloping limestone soils of the semi-mountainous and mountainous zone.
It is known by the name blue barrel cactus.
The plant develops a slow-growing, relatively compact upright spherical growth of 50 to 60 cm in height and up to 50 cm in diameter, often producing 2 to 10 lateral shoots at the base.
The stem is glaucous-grey in colour and is characterised by the presence of 11 to 15 strongly raised and slightly wavy vertical bands and relatively small, brown aureoles bearing 6 to 8 unevenly sized spines, which are 2,5 to 4 cm long and yellowish in colour.
The showy flowers, 4 cm long and 3 to 4 cm in diameter, develop between May and July from the top aureoles, are lemon-yellow in colour, chanelike in shape and are followed by relatively small, spherical, fleshy fruits 2,5 cm long, white-cream in colour at maturity, which contain hundreds of small black seeds.
Care
It is a relatively slow-growing plant, very hardy, adaptable and hardy under conditions similar to those of its natural habitat.
It grows excellently in sunny, bright positions, requiring full exposure to the sun, and prefers light, extremely stiff sandy to sandy-loam soils, but it is a highly adaptable species, able to survive even in the poorest and stony soils, provided there is excellent aeration of the rootstock.
It can withstand minimum temperatures of at least - 1°C, as long as excellent aeration of the rootstock and protection of the base from excessive precipitation are ensured.
It is an extremely drought resistant plant and is very tolerant of high summer temperatures, but grows much better when carefully irrigated in the warmer months of the year.
It dislikes intense, prolonged dampness, which is associated with internal rot of the rootstock and base and the weakening of the plant.
Plant with virtually zero cultural requirements once established in a suitable site.
Its growth rate can be increased by applying summer irrigation and careful water fertilisation.
It can be propagated by cuttings of lateral shoots and seeds.
English
F. glaucescens is native to Mexico Gulf and Mexico Northeast where the plant grows on limestone hills and in deciduous dry forests where the plant can spread up to 2300 m of altitude.
F. glaucescens is a globose succulent belonging to the Cactaceae botanical family.
The plant is solitary and can reach up to 55 cm tall and 50 cm in diameter.
The stem is globular and becomes columnar in age, it is arranged in 10-15 ribs. The ribs are well-marked and slightly wavy. The stem is glaucous grey to bluish in colour and ribs bear round areoles.
From the areoles emerge 6-7 radial spines curved inwards, yellow, and 0-1 central spine long and strong.
Blooming occurs in late spring to early summer and the flowers are borne at the apical part of the plant.
The flowers are funnel-shaped, bright yellow in color with wonderful bright purple stripes on petals and last a very long time. The fruit is white.
This is a slow growing plant, easy to cultivate.
The plant needs a full light sun exposure but is recommended to avoid direct sun-light in the hottest periods. The plant does not like temperatures below 6°C so it needs to be placed indoors in the coldest periods.
The soil should be mixed with pumice, clay and loam to allow the drainage and prevent the root rot, the plant is prone to it indeed. Remember to use a perforating pot to drain excess water.
Watering can be done regularly in Spring and Summer: during the vegetative period you can water the plant (every 7 days), checking that the soil is completely dry before watering again; in winter you should stop the watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy.
If you want a faster and lush growth you can fertilize the plant once a month during the growing season with the specific fertilizers for cacti; stop fertilizing during the winter.
If the pot starts to be too small for the plant you can repot the plant in a pot 2 cm wider. Repotting should be done early in the growing season with fresh new potting soil.
The name comes from the Latin "ferox", that is fierce, given by the presence of colourful, strong numerous and menacing thorns along the ribs of the stem.
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