Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Friday - March 04, 2011
From: Llano, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Freeze damage on Barrel Cactus in Llano TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I believe my barrel cactus has freeze damage. The flesh turned yellow and is now turning dark. The base is still green. If I cut off the damaged top portion, leaving the green base, should it survive? This would take off 3/4 of the plant, leaving only about 3 inches above the soil. It is a single barrel, not branched.ANSWER:
There are several plants with the common name "barrel cactus." Of these, Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature barrel cactus) is shown on its USDA Plant Profile as growing in Travis County, which is relatively close to Llano. Another is Ferocactus wislizeni (Candy barrelcactus), which grows in Texas but only in two isolated counties, one in very far West Texas. Both cacti are indicated to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. Travis County is considered to be Zone 8a and Llano County appears to be the same, so your cactus may be slightly out of its hardiness zone.
On this Arizona Cooperative Extension article on problems for cacti, scroll down to Page 5 where freezing problems are discussed. We found no conclusive advice on what to do with the damaged area; we would suggest you wait it out, see if the plant begins to put on new growth. Then, you can cautiously (those are SHARP spines) trim off the area you consider damaged beyond repair.
\
From the Image Gallery
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
Obtaining Agave parryi in Cherryville NC
May 11, 2011 - I live in western North Carolina and I had a friend that had a Agave parryi that bloomed about 1 year ago and of course it died. Since i saw the beautiful agave I have wanted one, but no one in my are...
view the full question and answer
Non-native jade plant from Pauline SC
August 24, 2012 - Do jade plants grow in South Carolina; if, so where?
view the full question and answer
Need help with yucca palm in New York City, NY.
November 10, 2011 - I have had my yucca palm plant for almost 10 years. The bark has started to peel off although leaves seem fine. The second smaller separate yucca plant has half its bark and trunk gone. I can't see a...
view the full question and answer
Eradicating cactus in Palo Pinto County, TX
March 30, 2010 - I live on a ranch in Palo Pinto County and would like to know how can I get rid of wild cactus.
view the full question and answer
Transporting a plant on airplane from New York City
April 21, 2012 - Can I transport via airplane a jade plant from New York City to Colorado in my suitcase?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
