Ferocactus FORDII

Ferocactus FORDII - Ford's barrel cactus, Ferocactus fordii, Echinocactus.

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

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

Flowering occurs in summer. Flowers are large, usually reddish, yellow, or pink, formed at the apex of the plant. Fruits are oblong, fleshy, and become dry upon ripening. Seeds are small, black or brown, rounded in shape with a glossy surface.

Ford's barrel cactus is not notable for large size; its height does not exceed 40 cm (16 in). The stem has a slightly flattened ball shape, colored greenish-blue. There are between 15 and 23 fairly high ribs. Central spines are slender with pale coloration. Flowers reach 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter and have a yellowish-red coloration.

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 temperature in the range of 22-26 °C (72-79 °F) are required.

Sprouts appear after 7-20 days. In rare cases, germination drags out to 30-40 days. Pricking out is performed after the appearance of the first spines, with seedlings being carefully transplanted into individual containers and kept under 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 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; in winter, maintenance at 8-12 °C (46-54 °F) under conditions of complete dormancy is preferred. Watering is carried out after complete drying of the soil, using soft water. In cold periods, watering is stopped to avoid rotting.

A coarse-grained mineral substrate with the addition of sand, brick chips, 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, fertilization is stopped. Nitrogenous 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 crop is recommended for experienced and beginning cactus growers.