How to Care for a Cactus With Yellow Flowers

Many cacti grow brightly colored flowers during spring. The barrel cactus sprouts yellow flowers from April to June. The flowers can reach up to 3 inches in diameter, making it an attracted garden or potted plant. Cacti are among the easiest plants to care for, being hardy and low maintenance.

• Make sure you are using an appropriate soil for the cactus. The potting mix must be able to retain water, yet drain excess. Home improvement and gardening stores often carry soil specifically mixed for cacti. You can also create your own soil. Mix two parts sand with two parts peat moss. Fill the container with regular potting soil and mix thoroughly.


• Pat down the dirt around the cactus when planting or repotting. The dirt should be firm so that it retains water. Make sure all roots are covered thoroughly.


• Wear gardening gloves whenever handling the cactus. It will have sharp needles that sting and may stick in your skin. You can also wrap newspaper around the cactus when moving it.


• Transfer the cactus to a new pot, if necessary. The barrel cactus can get up to 10 feet tall, so it will need repotted after a while. If the cactus appears to be about ½ inch or less from the sides of the pot, it is time to repot. Do not put the cactus into a large container so it has something to grow into. You may overwater it and cause it to rot.


• Water the cactus completely until the soil is thoroughly moist. Allow the dirt to dry out before adding more water. A good indicator that it needs watering is when the trunk begins to look slightly shriveled. The dirt in the pot of the cactus does not need to be constantly moistened.