Barrel Cactus

Fishhook Barrel Cactus Fun Facts!

- largest cacti in the American Southwest
- there are up to 25 vertical ribs
- flowers on old growth, flowers are up to 3 inches wide and grow in a ring around the top
- fruits can be eaten
- easily grown from seeds
- called a Amonopodial stem succulent@
- one of the most successful and characteristic life forms of the Sonoran desert
- massive but shallow root system
- vault-like water storing plant body with the greatest volume to surface ratio possible
- practices CAM photosynthesis
- grows extremely slow to minimizes energy demand and production of photosythate, lowering amount of energy needed for energy and water in reproduction
- a four year old barrel can be 3 inches high and 2.5 inches wide
- can live up to 130 years old
- Fruits lacking in sweet moist pulp (in contrast to prickly pear, pincushion and saguaro) to minimize water use
- grows in rather poor locations with long periods between rains, surrounding plant cover is low so competition is of little significance
- one large barrel survived 6 years after it was taken out of the ground - used 24 lbs. of stored water

Salvage Method:

    - bare root
    - when salvaging mark south side, at the nursery or planting site orient and plant south side facing south to prevent sunburn  

Temporary Holding Method: 

    - roots were trimmed to approximately 6 inches and either sulfured and planted or laid out under shade for a week to callus over cuts 
    - planted into holding beds in direct sun, south side facing south 
    - holding beds and potting soil consisted of 10% native soil; 45% washed sand; 45% compost
    

Pests & Diseases:

    - no pests sighted until movement of barrels to the Buffalo Solider Trail Project, some plants had borers on the bottoms in the crevices around the root ball 
    - one barrel had rot damage on it's side, Cathy Wertz scooped out the rot until she hit clean flesh, area was sprayed with sulfur and the barrel survived
   

Watering Schedule:

    - received no irrigation except rainfall
    - received one deep soaking in June 99 due to the unseasonably dry winter