Opuntia microdasys | Bunny Ears Cactus
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
One of the most recognizable Opuntia in the world: its small, rounded oval pads overlap to form a structure reminiscent of rabbit ears. The cladodes are flat, bright green, pubescent, and usually lack true spines. What looks like delicate fuzz is actually made up of dense clusters of glochids, tiny structures equipped with fine WHITE or RED microscopic barbs that easily detach upon contact. The pads usually measure between 5 and 15 cm, and the plant can form dense shrubs up to approximately 1 m tall. And then there is the 'CARESS' variety, which is completely SPINELESS.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It belongs to the Cactaceae family and is native to Mexico, primarily from the northern and central regions of the country, where it inhabits arid zones and dry scrublands, frequently at altitudes between 1,700 and 2,100 m. It is currently also naturalized in various places outside its native range.
❄️ Temperature — USDA Zone 8b–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures down to −9.4 ºC, especially when completely dry and acclimated. Its resistance increases considerably when low temperatures occur during a dry period; the combination of intense cold and persistent humidity is much more dangerous. Some cultivation references place specimens of this species at around −10 °C in dry soil.
☀️ Lighting
It requires full sun to keep the cladodes compact, promote balanced branching, and stimulate flowering. During active growth, a target of 18–25 mol/m²/day of DLI PAR is appropriate. Specimens grown in low light develop weaker segments and a less compact structure.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. Growth occurs mainly from spring to late summer, with the highest activity when temperatures are warm and lighting is good. During the active period, abundant watering is recommended, allowing the substrate to dry out completely before watering again. In autumn, watering should be gradually spaced out, and during winter, it should be kept practically dry, especially when temperatures are low.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear mainly in spring and early summer, developing on the edges of the cladodes. They are bright yellow, about 2.5–4 cm in diameter, and can acquire peach tones as they age. After flowering, fleshy red to purple fruits may develop. In Madrid, with sufficient sunlight and a mature plant, flowering can occur mainly between April and June.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
📏Xerophyte in a 9 x 9 cm pot.
* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living being! Each Desert CITY plant has unique characteristics.
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