[Arid_gardener] RE: Barrel Cactus

[Christine M. Bahto]

ORIGINAL QUESTION
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 21:20:04 -0700
From: "Julie Barnhill" <jpb at solution-engineers.com>
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Barrel cactus

We just bought a piece of property and there is a big barrel cactus that was
uprooted and laying on its side.  How do we go about planting this again.
This is a big cactus, probably two feet tall.  We have a back hoe that we
can use to move it right now.  The house faces West and we would like to
plant it in the front on the west facing side.

Thank you,

Julie

ANSWER:
Julie,
The easiest way to move or stand a barrel cactus upright is by using an old
garden hose or an old piece
of carpet. Wrap the hose or carpet around the cactus and lift, this is
easier with 2 people doing the lifting.
You want to orient the cactus so that the top will be facing southwest, most
barrel cactus normally lean in that
direction. You want to face the top SW because the top of a barrel is the
most protected part of the plant and can
take a direct hit from the hot summer sun.

Water deeply every 10-14 days, to get new roots to develop. Stop watering at
the end of October and don't resume watering again until the end of
February, at which point you can water once a month...unless it rains!

Christine Bahto
Master Gardener, Maricopa County, U of A Cooperative Extension.