Ferocactus SCHWARZII

Ferocactus SCHWARZII - Schwarz's barrel cactus, Ferocactus schwarzii, Parrycactus.

Ferocactus is a genus of cacti in the family Cactaceae, comprising about 30 species growing in arid regions of North and Central America.

The genus is represented by large spherical and barrel-shaped cacti with robust ribs and large areoles. The main distinction is powerful spines, often colored red, yellow, or white. Spines are rigid, straight, or hooked. Many species exhibit a tendency to grow taller with age, transitioning into a columnar shape.

Flowering occurs in summer. The flowers are large, usually reddish, yellow, or pink, forming at the apex of the plant. The fruits are oblong, fleshy, becoming dry upon maturation. Seeds are small, black or brown, rounded in shape with a glossy surface.

Schwarz's barrel cactus has a solitary stem of rounded shape with 13-19 ribs that grows slowly. Under indoor growing conditions it can reach 80 cm (31 in) in height and 50 cm (20 in) in diameter, but this will require a couple of decades. In a young plant, the spines are needle-like, yellow, up to 5.5 cm (2.2 in) in length, numbering 4-5 pieces; in a mature cactus there are fewer spines, only one or two. The color also changes over time, becoming light brown. It begins to flower when it reaches approximately 12 cm (4.7 in) in diameter. Yellow flowers are situated at the apex of the stem. This species received its name in honor of its discoverer, Friedrich Schwarz. The homeland of the plant is Mexico, where the cactus can be found on steep slopes in the state of Sinaloa.

Seeds are sown on the surface of a moistened mineral substrate with the addition of fine sand. Sowings are covered with a transparent dome. Daily ventilation and maintaining a temperature in the range of 22-26 °C (72-79 °F) are required.

Seedlings emerge within 7-20 days. In rare cases, germination extends up to 30-40 days. Pricking out is performed after the appearance of the first spines, with seedlings carefully transplanted into individual containers and kept in diffused lighting.

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Ferocactus is successfully grown under home conditions. It is placed in a bright sunny spot, preferably a south-facing window or a greenhouse. When grown in an apartment, maximum illumination and regular ventilation are provided.

In summer, a temperature of 22-30 °C (72-86 °F) is maintained, and in winter, keeping it at 8-12 °C (46-54 °F) under conditions of complete dormancy is preferred. Watering is carried out after the soil has dried out completely, using soft water. In the cold period, watering ceases to prevent rot.

A coarse-grained mineral substrate with the addition of sand, crushed brick, and perlite is used. Preference is given to deep pots with mandatory drainage. Repotting is carried out in spring as needed. During the growing season, mineral fertilizers for cacti are applied once every 3-4 weeks. From mid-autumn, fertilizing ceases. Nitrogen fertilizers are not used.

Shaping and pruning are not performed. Propagation is carried out primarily by seeds, as the plant grows slowly and rarely produces offsets. The culture is recommended for both experienced and beginning cactus enthusiasts.