You can do Ferocactus pilosus propagation only by seed. You can not apply cutting methods to propagate this spiny cactus. This article will show you the correct way to conduct Ferocactus pilosus propagation in no time.
What is Ferocactus pilosus?
Ferocactus pilosus or mexican fire barrel cactus is an attractive cactus which tends to take a globose shape as they grow. Further they become taller once they mature.
The Ferocactus pilosus stem tends to take a green to dark green color. Besides, they would comprise spines in red. The Ferocactus pilosus would grow up to 3 meters and they would reach a maximum width of 60 cm.
Further, Ferocactus pilosus consist of sharp spines and they would be a little wavy. Moreover, you could spot them carrying areolas too.
The areolas are yellow and they are about 1 cm in size. However, they would turn gray as they mature. Ferocactus pilosus is a hairy plant.
Ferocactus pilosus produce flowers and they would resemble a bell shape and you could spot them flowering in orange and purple during summer.
Ferocactus pilosus propagation by seeds?
Ferocactus pilosus produce seeds and you can use them for propagation. In fact, that is the only possible way of propagating them.
To propagate , you need to simply let them germinate for one to two weeks at a temperature of 21-27 degrees Celsius during spring.
All you need to do is to sow them in a well-draining soil mix and cover the specimen with glass.
Next remove the glass slowly from the specimen and you can spot them forming roots within 1-2 weeks’ time given that there is good ventilation around the plants.
When you spot they have formed firm roots, you can pot them in individual pots.
Can you root the ferocactus pilosus in water?
There is no record you can conduct Ferocactus pilosus water propagation.
How to treat after propagation
Watering
Watering the Ferocactus pilosus plants well is critical when looking after them. Ferocactus pilosus have typical requirements when it comes to watering.
Soggy and damp conditions in the soil are quite unhealthy for the Ferocactus pilosus plants. Always ensure that you water the plants when the soil is dry only and that will avoid any potential over-watering.
Besides, ensure that you water them thoroughly and deeply and then let them wither. In terms of frequency, you can water them once every 7-10 days when they are actively growing. Skip watering the plants in winter.
Soil requirement
Ensure that you are going ahead with a well draining soil mix. Thus, a commercially made succulent soil mix or in a cactus soil mix would go well with these plants.
If not , you can make a soil mix on your own by mixing leaf mulch and coarse sand at a ratio of ½ – ½ .
Light requirement
It is vital that you expose them for full sunlight to stimulate the fast draining of the plants.
Having said that, the exposure for intense full sunlight would result in sunburns in the plants. Hence I recommend exposing the plants for full sunlight in the morning as morning sunlight would be more appropriate.
On the other hand, semi shade in the afternoon would go well with them during the rest of the day.
Temperature and humidity
Ferocactus pilosus plants require hot and dry weather conditions to grow well.
As such if you live in colder weather , it would be better and safer if you can grow them as houseplants during such conditions and bring them outdoors.
Temperatures above 6 degrees Celsius would be unhealthy and the ideal hardiness zones which would suit these plants are USDA hardiness zones 9a-11b.
Pot size and repotting
Best is to go for a pot which is made of a porous material as the water evaporation in such material is faster than the rest of other materials.
Therefore, clay either clay pots or terracotta pots would go well with these plants. Reporting wise, you do not have to do it on a frequent basis and you could do it just once a year or once every two years.
Fertilizer requirement
Ferocactus pilosus plants do not depend on external fertilizers a lot. However, you may consider feeding them occasionally during their active growing phase.
Related questions
Does a Ferocactus pilosus need sunlight?
Ferocactus pilosus would grow well if you expose them to bright sunlight in the morning hours.
It is critical that you fulfill the sunlight requirement as that will have a greater impact on the plant’s vigorous growth. However, do not expose the young Ferocactus pilosus plants under full sunlight.
How long does it take a ferocactus pilosus to root?
It would take about one week to two weeks to produce roots.
Finally
To conclude, I hope you were able to enhance your knowledge on how to conduct the propagation of the Ferocactus pilosus plants properly.
Hope these tips would be helpful for you to make new plants and the aforesaid growing tips when taking care of them too.
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