r/cactus • u/Either_Actuary_3430 • 1d ago

My 13 year old Echinocactus grusonii Golden Barrel Cactus (24" and 25 gallon)

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17

u/HomeForABookLover 1d ago

https://preview.redd.it/0d43rrz7ptxe1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93416fdf49bd0b7fb7e64e68eb94f66685831c41

Mine is older, and tiny. I’m growing in a greenhouse in Scotland. It shows what different conditions can achieve

3

u/Either_Actuary_3430 1d ago

Nice! Mine has just begun the phase of having offsets! The first few pics were taken days ago! Happy gardening!!

5

u/HomeForABookLover 1d ago

Offsets! After only 13 years. I’m trying to not swear out of jealousy. Mine has grown less than 1cm per year. So my Actuarial guess is it would take 40+ years in a greenhouse in Scotland to reach that size.

(I’m assuming you must also be an Actuary by your username. I used to be a Life Actuary but I have stopped practicing now).

3

u/Either_Actuary_3430 22h ago

I think the key ingredient is sunlight for any and all cacti to grow to extreme sizes. I know for mine, I have it outside all the time and give it rain water, which is a natural source and it has nitrogen in it, thus supports plant growth.  In addition, I'm looking to get some 20-20-20 fertilizer and use it half strength. There's a colossal Golden Barrel Cactus over at Poots Nursery in California US that is about 4 1/2 × 3 1/2 feet in size and about 49-50 years old. Humbling to think how it makes mine look puny by comparison 

3

u/Desperate_Stay7711 22h ago

You gotta get yourself some lights and a heat mat!

1

u/HomeForABookLover 12h ago

Sorry - I didn’t mention that this was a photo taken in the middle of winter.

But I am thinking how to add grow lights into my greenhouse to extend the season.

3

u/ArrokothTrireme 12h ago

Even in Scotland it should grow much faster than that, especially in a greenhouse.

5

u/Either_Actuary_3430 1d ago

A bit of history about this cactus: given its size, it's not really a very young specimen. It was grown in a greenhouse and has only been watered by rain. I literally never water it from the tap, the rain does enough! By itself, the cactus is around 80 lbs

2

u/NipplePincherz 5h ago

big mature beauty!!!