If you see a fat cactus during one of your travel accros the desert, then you may see the Golden Barrel Cactus. This cactus is known for its round shape. It is suitable to be grown in the conservatories as well as on the indoor areas and patios. This cactus also goes with another and funnier name of the mother in law’s cushion.
It is hilarious to think that this may be the expectation of the people naming the cactus of how their mother in laws would be sitting on. Talking about dislike! Other than that, the cactus has many other names but none is as funny such as the golden ball cactus or the more scientific name of Echinocactus grusonii. The Golden Barrel Cactus is the natural plant of the Mexican desert and it is not a rare few of the area.
When you see the cactus in the nature, you will most often see it growing in one of the garden rockery settings as well as the desert type landscapes as it prefers these kinds of areas. However, when grown in the conservatories or botanical areas, the cactus would only need enough sunlight. So if they are grown indoor, they may live but they would not thrive, let alone bear flowers.
The round shape of the stem may be growing for about 60 inches tall in average. They can be as wide as 36 inches in the wild. The stem of the cactus is ribbed and it produces the prickly spines. The prickly spines are yellowish and they can grow all around the stem making it look like the stem has a golden wrap.
The Golden Barrel Cactus can bear yellow flowers. The cactus only flowers during the mid summer time when it is grown outdoor. That is one of the reasons why we know that the cactus is often grown for the foliage and not for the flowers that it may be bear. The round desert plant is appealing especially for the collectors and the cactus gardeners.
The Golden Barrel Cactus or also known as the Echinocactus grusonii is a fast grower. However, over time, its speed of growth is decreasing. That is why if you would expect the cactus will be growing fast, you would be wrong. It would reach the diameter of 10 inches in about 10 years. If you are not patient enough, this is the wrong plant for you.
