Mine were about 8 years old before they got big enough, and started putting out babies, they were doing really well until I did the re-landscape project last year, and all the golden barrels had to be dug up and re-transplanted. No babies since. But I would think in a year or two, they will be established and putting out babies again. Mine are about as big as those in the pics above now. They are 20 years old. They probable would have grown faster with a little extra summer water. Especially with the drought we have been having over the past several years. But, trying to be as conservative as I can, I have gave them no extra water, and they have thrived quite nicely. I think I have some pics somewhere, will have to find and post.
When I bought the house, someone had put down white quartz. To me it seemed so fake and un-natural. Last year I had them take out all the white quartz, and put in a nice desert color, smaller rock size. Really turned out nice, and definitely more natural. I also removed all the grass from my front yard and replaced it with the rock I describe. Next step, to remove the remaining 47 roses from the front yard, and replace them with cacti. I'm working on getting and multiplying a bunch of the new hybrid Echinopsis, and replacing the roses with those, because they come in such deligtful colors, and are stunningly HUGE flowers. Below is a picture of one of them. I can't recall the name of this one. My favorite is Southern Belle, I have three of those in pots to move to the front yard this early spring.
