La Opuntia microdasys It is one of the few species of the genus that, in addition to being able to grow in relatively small gardens, can be grown for many years in a pot. And that's not to mention that it is one of the easiest cacti to care for.
It is not surprising then that we meet her in any nursery, garden store or local market. But, What is it that makes it so special?
Opuntia microdasys var. albispine
Opuntia microdasys is the scientific name of a cactus native to central and northern Mexico. The species was described by Johann Georg Christian Lehmann and published in the Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum in 1837. It is popularly known as Angel Wings, Rabbit Ears, Blind Prickly Pear and Blind Prickly Pear.
It is a highly branched plant that forms very dense clumps up to 1 meter high. The segments (leaves) are 8 to 15cm long, and are oval or oval-elongated and green in color. It has large areoles from which there are dense glochids (very thin leaf spines, usually short) of yellow or brown color. The flowers are yellow and measure about 4cm. It blooms in summer. The fruits are red, dark and small in size.
Its cultivation is, as we anticipated, very simple. The only thing to keep in mind are three things:
- It must be placed in full sun. Although it grows well in semi-shade, the ideal is to gradually accustom it to direct exposure of the sun king starting in autumn if it comes from a greenhouse.
- Irrigation has to be rather scarce. No more than one and two irrigations per week.
- Thorns are very treacherous. Why do I say this? Because it is enough that you rub it so that a few glochids are stuck in the skin. So be careful. 😉
Otherwise, it resists cold well but frost hurts it. From experience I can tell you that it can hold up to -1ºC if it has dry land, but it is not recommended that it be outside if the temperature drops below 0ºC.
Hello on the tips of the leaves I have white dots like cotton that are making it dry, what do I do?
Hello Monica.
Have you looked to remove any? This cactus naturally has whitish areolas, they could be mistaken for a cottony mealybug when they sprout.
If it is a pest, you can remove them with a brush soaked in drugstore alcohol.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know if it is normal for the color of the segments to go from dark to light, also that new segments have emerged but they grow thin and elongated, is it bad?
Hello Helena.
That happens when they lack light, they grow very elongated and weak.
I recommend that you gradually get used to direct sunlight, exposing it for a couple of hours every day for a week, and gradually increasing the exposure time.
Avoid the central hours, so that it does not burn.
A greeting.
Hi there! I came here because I was looking for care for my "Bunny" (a cactus shaped like a rabbit's head). I never had a cactus ... but I fell in love with this one !! I'm doing everything I can to know how to take good care of it.
A few weeks ago it had some white spots on the stem (not on its "ears") and only one or two of the prickly buttons that it has all over its body have turned somewhat yellowish. I have tried to remove those whitish stains by rubbing it sooo softly but I have not been able and I am afraid of hurting it. A few days ago I saw an almost microscopic black bug walking through the dirt in its flowerpot, I couldn't tell what kind it was ...
Does it have something to do with the stains? Are those spots fungi?
Thank you!!
Hello Maria.
I recommend treating it with a broad-spectrum insecticide, and moving it to a larger pot in spring.
If it does not improve, write to us.
Greetings.
Hi Monica, when I bought my Opuntia Microdasys cactus I said that I had to water it 3 times a week but I noticed that the bottom turned gray. that I have to do?
Hi Yesica.
I recommend you remove it from the pot, wrap the earthen bread with absorbent paper and leave it in a place protected from the sun and dry for a week. Then plant it again in a pot, if possible new and with a new substrate, and do not water after a few more days.
Thereafter, water by letting the soil dry completely before moistening it again.
A greeting.
Hi there! My cactus has medium gray halos. What will they be?
I have it inside the house in a flowerpot.
Hello Andre.
It could be excess water. How often do you water it? Being indoors you have to water very sparingly, every 7-10 days. If you have a plate underneath, remove the excess water 30 minutes after watering to prevent its roots from rotting.
Greetings.
Hello, I'm sorry, I'm new to this cactus thing and I have been with my Pablo for almost three months a few days ago, here they are coming out like thin and long twigs on the sides. I don't know if it's normal?
Hi John.
If they are long and thinner, it is because you are looking for light. This cactus needs to be in full sun to grow well, but you have to get used to it little by little and gradually. In this article You have more information.
Greetings.
Hello, how many colors can thorns be?
I have seen white, yellow and red.
Thank you very much!
Hi Marce.
Those same: white, yellow and red. It depends on the variety 🙂
-Opuntia microdasys var. albino: white
-Opuntia microdasys subsp rufina: red
Greetings.
Hi there! I am a bit confused… I read several notes / articles but I still don't know if the aspect that I observe (it is falling little by little, the green color is getting lighter and paler) is due to excess or lack of water… It is neither very close not too far from the window, it is quite small, I water it every 2 weeks (is it very little? I do that because it was rotting) and I also wanted to know if the heating during the winter can hurt them! Thanks a lot!!!
Hello Ariana.
Yes, heating and air conditioning does a lot of damage to plants, to all of them.
My advice is to move it around, and water it when the soil is dry. Of course, keep in mind that it needs a lot of natural light.
Greetings.
Hello, I just got Clementina, my cactus, they gave it to me in a beer can and the earth is like hay, I want to know what I can do to transplant it to a pot, and where is it more appropriate to put it if it was previously in a greenhouse.
Hi Marijose.
Congratulations on your cactus!
It is best to plant it in a pot with holes, with mineral soil, and keep it in semi-shade (if it was put in the sun, it would burn).
Water it when the soil is dry so it will grow well.
Greetings.
I have some questions: are the fruits of my Opuntia microdasys edible? Because my opuntia measures 18 cm and the fruit measures approximately 1 cm.
Is it too small to bear fruit?
Please.
Hi Gonzalo.
The truth is that I couldn't tell you if they are edible or not, but it is possible that they are either very fibrous or very acidic.
As for whether it's small, no. If your needs are met and you are healthy, you can produce fruit soon.
Greetings.