I've never grow Golden Barrels from seed, but I have grown other cactus from seed. Just be patient keep warm and moist. Not hot. Some people use those heat mats. I've never used them. If one lives in a cold climate it might be a good idea. I wonder what the Giant cactus/pink pot is? The fish hook I'm sure is Mammillaria:). Golden Barrels are beautiful. I love when they're huge! They're spines are unique they remind me of plastic. I only have one, got him like four years ago. He was tiny. Maybe 2 inches.

He's about 5 inches wide and 4 inches tall. That's measuring from the spine to spine:).

I finally have some shelves and some lights set up so I can overwinter my other cactus and succulents. I should have started these in the summer, but I knew my only choices were outside where I had little control over the light/water situation or indoor on my kitchen windowsill and I didn't think it would be enough light (based on how etoliated other things I had in it were getting). Is it too late in the year to try to start the golden barrel seeds?

Kara, that last one is stunning!

Kara, just when I again begin to think "Kara just loves ALL cacti!", you post a photo like THAT. I say to myself "OH! That's why..." and then I shut up. lol

Tyler

Kara, That is a cool looking cactus!

My shelves and lights are in a spare bedroom, but it's where the crate for our dog, and some shelves for kitchen appliances are (small house, gotta put stuff where you can) so the door is always open and the room is the same temperature as the rest of the house about 70F in the winter.

It's crazy how Echinocactus and Ferocactus look so different from when they're small to mature. They don't even look like the same plant. At least I think they look different;). When they're young they have tubercles, but as they get older the cactus will start to grow really defined ribs. Like my baby cactus above looks nothing like the mature plant.

So the baby spineless you show above, the little buds that stick out (that would have had spines) is a tubercle? Then they just kind of merge/morph into a long ridge as the cactus grows?

Yep those little bumps that the areole/spines are sitting on are tubercles.

Here's a good example of what I'm talking about;). Pics are from a Google images:).

Baby Ferocactus glaucescens;).

Same cactus as above, but mature;).

If you really look at my Golden Barrel up top that's exactly what's going on. The tubercles are lining up and becoming smaller;).