Question
Hi Greg,
I have an 11 inch golden barrel that has recently been going yellowish brown at the bottom half of the plant. the spines have changed to a darker shade and the ribs are shriveled. The entire area is all hard still. I have left it out in full sun this summer on a few occassions but now I have it indoors where it still receives afternoon sun. I would like to prevent this condition from spreading further and also can I reverse the shrivelling of the ribs? Thanks for taking the time to answer my question!
Elaine

Answer
Dear Elaine,

Generally speaking, barrel cactus get brown where they come in contact with the soil. However, your plant may be reacting to heat. If it is not used to being in direct sun, it will not react well to it. Where I live in Phoenix, golden barrels (Echinocactus grusonii) get stressed in the summer because of the heat (even if they are planted in the gound). This can also happen, especially if it is planted in a pot.

My advice would be to keep it out of direct sunlight (unless you gradually get it used to it) and water only when the soil is dry, more often in summer than winter. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg