Opuntia microdasys, commonly known as Bunny Ears Cactus, is a clump-forming Mexican cactus with thornless flat elliptical to circular pads. It grows up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall and 6 feet (1.8 m) wide. An interesting bit of Bunny Ears Cactus information is that it does not develop spines. Instead, it grows glochids, which are short whitish, yellowish, or brown prickles. Unfortunately, these still can bite, so caution is urged when handling this cactus. If you are lucky, the plant may produce up to 2 inches (5 cm) wide, creamy yellow flowers in summer, followed by spherical purple fruits.
Growing Bunny Ears Cactus is as simple as mimicking its native conditions. So if you have a dry, low humidity home and plenty of sun exposure, Bunny Ears Cactus might be the perfect plant for you.
Light, Temperature, and Humidity
A spot near a sunny window is most likely to meet the need of Bunny Ears Cactus for bright direct sun. While an actively growing Bunny Ears Cactus tolerates indoor summer temperatures as high as 100 °F (38 °C), do not expect it to flower unless you also provide winter temperatures between 45 and 55 °F (7 and 13 °C). Regardless of the season, it likes humidity in the 10 to 30 percent range. Finally, if none of your windows provides adequate light, place the plant 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) below a cool white fluorescent tube for 14 to 16 hours each day.
Pot and Potting Soil
A good Bunny Ears Cactus potting soil must drain quickly. Use a commercial cactus potting mix, or make your own. The best container for your cactus is a clay pot, just slightly larger and deeper than the plant's root system. It must have drainage holes because a pot without them, or a too-large pot, could make proper watering impossible.
Watering
As a heat-loving cactus that grows outdoors in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 through 11, Bunny Ears Cactus has shallow roots adapted to capturing the slightest rainfall. When confined to a pot, the roots are susceptible to rot if continuously kept wet. Wait until the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry before watering Bunny Ears Cactus until water flows from the container's drainage holes. Regular watering is essential when it is actively growing between spring and fall. Once the plant enters winter dormancy, dampening the medium once every 3 to 4 weeks is enough.
Fertilizing
Bunny Ears Cactus benefits from feeding with liquid 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer diluted to one-half the label's recommended strength. If you are encouraging the plant to bloom, an alternative is to use 5-10-10 fertilizer. Either way, fertilize the actively growing plant with every other watering. Fertilizing it more frequently may stimulate too-rapid growth or lead to misshapen pads. Do not fertilize a dormant or newly potted Bunny Ears Cactus.
Pests Control
Cottony, segmented white mealybugs and barnaclelike scale insects attach to a Bunny Ears Cactus' pads to drain sap. To control the pests without having the bristly glochids attach to your skin, dab the pests with cotton swabs dipped in 70 % isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Repotting
Expect to repot Bunny Ears Cactus in a container one size larger than its current one every one or two years. Its roots need time to recover from the move, so wait a week before watering it lightly and moving it back into direct sun. Withhold fertilizer for at least a month after repotting. When repotting, use rolled-up newspaper or old carpet to handle the plant to avoid touching the irritating glochids on the plant's pads.
Propagation
Any fully grown pad from this cactus may be broken off cleanly in the early summer and repotted for propagation purposes. Cuttings work best when grouped in threes or more and should be buried an inch (2.5 cm) deep in the soil. Remember to water regularly to promote the growth of a healthy root system in the first year after propagation.
Source: sfgate.com
Links
- Back to genus Opuntia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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