Bunny ears cactus
Also called Polka dot cactus, Angel's wings.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 18 days in the growing season, every 60 in winter |
| Humidity | low |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 40 cm (16 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats not known, dogs not known |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, no entry for Opuntia microdasys.
Flat oval pads growing in pairs off one another, which is where the ears come from, dotted evenly with what look like harmless golden freckles. They are not harmless. Each freckle is a tuft of glochids, fine barbed bristles that detach at the lightest touch, work into skin and are genuinely difficult to remove, and this is the one plant in this journal worth handling with folded newspaper rather than gloves. Given that, it is an easy and rewarding cactus: full sun, gritty compost, a proper soaking in summer and absolutely nothing to drink from autumn to spring. Detach a pad, let the cut dry for a week and lay it on compost, and you have another.
Ailments observed
| A soft or mushy base to the stem | Water in the cold months. Keep it completely dry from autumn to spring. If a pad has gone soft, cut a firm one off, let the cut dry for a week and lay it on gritty compost. |
|---|---|
| Wrinkled or shrivelled leaves | Pads gone soft and puckered in summer, which means it is genuinely thirsty. Soak it properly and let it drain. In the growing season it wants more water than most people give a cactus. |
Filed underPlants that forgive a beginner, Succulents and cacti, Plants for infrequent watering, Plants for a balcony or a small space
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