5. Ferocactus

Plants of the genus Ferocactus belong to the large family of Cactaceae whose natural habitat is Mexico and other desert areas of the southern United States.

The Ferocactus: Characteristics

The name of this species comes from the Latin word “ferox” (ferocious) due to the presence of many robust, colored spines with a “threatening” appearance. Plants of the genus Ferocactus are characterized by a round shape that tends to become columnar in adulthood. The main characteristic of these cacti, and that which contributes to its name, are the spines! They are in fact particularly robust and evident, present along their ribs and arranged vertically. The stem is an intense green color that can vary up to gray-green and the dimensions vary depending on the species; they range from 30-40 cm up to one meter in height for an adult plant. 

Varieties and Types

There are a multitude of recognized species of Ferocactus, about thirty to date. Below we list some of the various species and main varieties of the genus. 

ferocactus acanthodes
F. Alamosanus
F. Californicus
F. Chrysacanthus
F.Coloratus
F. Cylindraceus
F. Diguetii (Catalina Island)
F. Echidna
F. Emory
F. Flavovirens
F. Fordii
F. Glaucescens
F. Nudum
F. Gracilis
F. Brevispinus
F. Histrix
F. Johnstonianus
F. Latispinus
F. Macrodiscus (northern subsp.)
F. Peninsulae
F. Pilosus
F. Pottsii v. alamosanus
F. Rectispinus
F. Recurvus subsp. greenwoodii
F. Reppenhagen
F. Santa-maria
F. Schwarzii
F. Sinuatus v. papyracanthus
F. Stainesii (var. Pilosus)
f. Townsendianus
F. Viridescens

Growing Tips

Like all spherical cacti, too Ferocactus fear humidity and rot, especially around the part that joins the plant to the ground. This type of plant likes aexposure to full sun, always paying attention to possible burns. Generally they should be kept at a temperature above 5-6 °C; although some species can often briefly resist temperatures of a few degrees below 0°C.

Waterings must be abundant between them, so it is advisable to wait between one watering and the next until the soil is completely dry. Always be very careful not to create stagnant water around the base of the plant. In winter, however, it does not need to be watered, so it is best to suspend it altogether.

The land to be used is the standard one for cacti. Fertilization should be done between April and September, once every 20 days or so with a fertilizer low in nitrogen. Moreover, being a slow growing plant, it is not necessary to repot it frequently: once every 3-4 years can be enough. 

Ferocactus reproduce by seed and very rarely manage to produce fruit. suckers to be used as cuttings. The germination process of its seeds in nature takes months, which is why we usually resort to using special seed treatments to soften the outer casing and thus speed up the process. One of these processes is, for example, leaving it immersed in warm water or in particular solutions.