Bunny Ear Cactus

Bunny Ear Cactus Care

Opuntia microdasys

What is the plant

This plant is quite popular among houseplants lovers, not only because of its easy care but also because of its very unusual appearance. Very cute, with white spots, it immediately catches the eye. Fascinating is the fact that the plant also blooms in summer: it produces yellow flowers with a golden hue.

Bunny Ear Cactus, also known as Opuntia, belongs to a genus of desert cacti that has been able to survive where others would simply die. The appearance of Opuntia, which forms bizarre thickets and figures, is almost inseparable from Mexican landscapes.

This variety is a medium-growing cactus. It grows as a bush. The stem has an oval, flattened shape. This cactus is famous for the particular segmentation of its stems. The plant is strongly branched and grows up to 50 cm in height.

The very dense plant skin protects the juicy flesh of the shoots. Old stems gradually become woody, with a light brown crust on them.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

7°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

8a - 10b

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

Toxicity

Poisonous

Invasive

Weed

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Add a few drops of lemon juice to water - this will have a positive effect on flowering. There is only one difficulty in watering opuntia - the stems must not be soaked under any circumstances. Pour the water carefully so as not to soak the plant. If the water gets on the surface of the flower, lime white streaks may form.
Pruning
Cutting is not necessary.
Fertilizer
In spring and summer, the plant needs regular fertilizing once a month. Use a complex fertilizer for flowering cacti.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
The small Bunny Ear Cactus does not like to be moved from place to place. Consider where it will stay for several years in advance – this place should be well lit. This cactus variety likes bright light, but direct sun exposure should be avoided. During the summer heat, provide light window shading. In winter, the flower consumes a lot of light as well. Additional illumination for 2 - 3 hours a day is required.
Soil
Soil mixture is better to choose from many special substrates for cacti. Opuntia prefers slightly acidic soils.
Propagation
Remove plant parts that cause elongation, underdevelopment or damage.

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Temperature
Optimal temperatures for the active vegetation period are above 77˚F (25 °C). This heat-resistant cactus easily tolerates temperatures above 86˚F (30 °C).
Container
If it's spring, this is a perfect time to transplant. If not, wait until spring or do an extremely careful transplanting. The pot should be wide but not too deep. Please be aware that transplanting opuntia may be challenging, so it is better not to touch it without any obvious reason.
Fun fact
Bunny Ear Cactus, also known as Opuntia, is a true legend among cacti. It is almost the most famous cactus on our planet and is most often chosen for school experiments.