As with most cacti, Golden Barrel cacti are known for having a pretty green look to the whole plant. Golden barrel cacti can turn brown, and most of the time this is because they are getting old.
Cacti are usually not in good shape when they look this way. There are things you should know about that could be making them look this way. This is why your Golden barrel has turned brown instead of green. Here are a few of the reasons.
It looks like the fungus has found its way into your Golden Barrel
There are many types of succulents out there that can get infected by fungus. This could hurt the plant as well as its roots, which help it grow.
This cactus has turned brown or black, which means it has a fungal infection in its roots. If you’re lucky, the infection will only be on the outside of your golden barrel. There are a lot of things that could be making your cactus look brown and soft. This could be one of them.
Because overwatering or damp conditions are the main cause of the fungus on your golden barrel cactus, you should look at how you water your plant. Is it possible that you’ve been watering too much? Is it possible that you’re using the wrong soil for the golden barrel to get this way?
People have to look at these things if they don’t want them to happen again. To avoid the fungal disease from spreading to other plants, you should get rid of your golden barrel. There is nothing you can do about it.
You can use a good neem oil spray to quickly get rid of fungus if you notice it early enough.
Pests have also found their way into the cactus plants
It has spines to protect it, but pests like mealybugs and aphids can still get through and do damage to your plant. If you notice that parts of the plant have turned brown and you know for sure that it isn’t a fungal problem or anything else, then pests could be to blame. It’s a good sign if you see fuzzy white spots on your Golden barrel, which means there are mealy bugs on it.
A cotton swab and rubbing alcohol will help you get rid of the bugs by hand, but you’ll need to keep an eye on the cactus for some time after that. To be safe, you could even repot this succulent just in case these bugs have laid eggs so that you don’t have to remove them one by one.
In the same way, as with the Fungai problem, you can use some good Nerme Oil in order to get rid of these pests. It works well and is very easy to use.
In the golden barrel, the rot has spread
There’s also the risk that the plant will die because it is getting too much water. This will make the cactus turn brown and soft all over. This will make the cactus not be able to move water well.
Your cactus will also die if you don’t do something soon to keep the good roots and get rid of the bad ones. Keep your golden barrel cactus healthy by not over-watering or leaving water out for too long, and you won’t have to worry about root rot.
Sunburn
The golden barrel cactus, like most succulents, can turn brown or have brown spots if it gets a lot of sun. If the sunburn isn’t too bad, it may only get small white spots. In this case, you can move the cactus to a spot with a lot of shade or cover it with a shade cloth to keep it safe.
But if the sunburn has been too long, you will see brown spots on your cactus. This will be a permanent part of your cactus, though. If you have reached this point, you’re out of luck. If you haven’t, you know what to do.
You should also think about how to bring this plant inside or use a good mini-greenhouse if the temperature is going to be very low this year.
Your Golden Barrel Has a Hole In It
Because your golden barrel has been aging, it may have turned brown. This is called corking. If your golden barrel cactus has been around for a long time, it will start to turn brown at the base and work its way up.
If you want to know if your golden barrel cactus is healthy, you can just touch the brown area. if the area is hard to the touch, then it is safe to say that the cactus is corking and is not a problem for this type of plant. It may look bad, but there is no need to worry or do anything because this is normal and expected from the cactus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barrel Cactus
Are golden barrel cacti rare?
People think of the golden barrel as a rare and endangered species. Slowly, it gets three feet tall and two feet wide. When the plant is fully grown, it has yellow flowers at the top in the spring, followed by fruit.
How often should my Golden Barrel Cactus be watered?
In the summer, you should water your barrel cactus weekly. When the barrel cactus goes to sleep for the winter, it doesn’t need much water. From December to February, you only need to water once. If the plant gets enough water in the spring, it might grow a big yellow flower.
How much would a golden barrel cactus cost?
From $8 to $400, prices vary. Some of the best deals are in sizes between 8 and 13 inches in diameter. Small plants may not be strong enough to use in a landscape, and big ones are definitely expensive. Golden barrels aren’t like most plants in that as they grow, they grow increasingly beautiful.