Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus, "Kinshachi")

Japanese name: キンシャチ （金鯱）
Scientific name: Echinocactus grusonii

[Overview]
A large single-stemmed cactus growing to 90 cm in diameter and 1.3 m in height.
The plant body is spherical and bright green, and the top is densely covered with white to yellow woolly hairs.
Large plants have about 30 sharp-edged ribs.
On the ribs, large areoles are set at 1–2 cm intervals, bearing thick, sharp, awl-shaped spines.
The spines are about 5 cm long, with 8–10 radial spines and 3–5 central spines.
The flowers open when the sun shines on them; the outer petals are brown and the inner petals are yellow with a silky sheen.
The fruit is spherical to oblong and covered with white hairs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings (offsets).
It prefers a sunny, well-ventilated place and should be planted in well-drained, well-aerated soil.
From spring to early summer, except in midsummer, water when the soil surface has dried, until water runs out of the bottom of the pot.
In midsummer keep it somewhat on the dry side, and if watering, do so in the morning or evening so that steam does not make it stuffy.
From autumn to winter, watering once every 2 weeks to 1 month is enough.
Take care not to overwater or overfertilize.
Pests and diseases include scale insects and spider mites.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)