Ferocactus gracilis

The fire barrel cactus of central Baja California, a columnar barrel with flaming red spines that grows in full desert sun. It wants maximum light, a dry, cool winter and a very fast-draining mineral mix; the cool winter nights and strong light keep the spines red.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Rocky hillsides, outwash fans, silt flats and gravelly plains of the Central Desert of Baja California, alongside Fouquieria, Stenocereus and Echinocereus.

Records span 3 to 1476 m, median about 330 m.

Baja CaliforniaBaja California Sur

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.