

Re-potting should take place in the summer, after the year's bloom has finished. Fertilization should stop one month before the planned winter cycle for the plant's health. Monthly feeding of low nitrogen fertilizer. To increase drainage for a picky plant, mix in a 1:1 ratio of perlite or bark. It is usually happy with the pre-packaged cactus soil found in common hardware stores. Like most cacti, this specimen demands sandy soil-bases that drain easily. During the winter cycle, the cactus should not be watered at all, with watering to resume in the early spring. After the first season, more sporadic watering is required. The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy. This will help it to create a strong root system. It should be given water on a regular basis during its first season in a new pot. The Polka-dot Cactus is a desert species.

For the plant's health, light should be reduced to partial sun during this time.
#Cactus looks like bunny ears soft thorns full#
These controlled winter conditions will result in plant death the following spring.ĭemands full light growing for most of the year, except during the winter cycle. The cooler spell isĭemanded over the course of the entire winter, during which time the segments of cactus will turn a light gray color. Starting in the late fall, this cactus should be kept between 50-65☏ (10-18☌), and away from central heating vents. This cactus enjoys temperatures ranging from 70-100☏ (21-37☌), but demands cooler temperatures during the winter months. Long fruits varying from purple to red in color. These are a creamy yellow in color, and fade to peach once fertilized. Budding begins in late spring, and culminates in early The glochids are so loosely attached that a strongįlowering: Flowers only bud at the termination points of fully formed segments. Once fully formed, the glochids form on the new plant segment. The Polka-dot Cactus covers its mature pads with closely spaced glochids, or small mounds of prickles that are designed to detach when Flowers will always sprout from the terminal ends of Newest segments grow in as a red color, and mature to dark green as they grow. These new segments always grow in pairs, giving new growth areas the appearance of bunny ears. Oval shaped pads from which additional segments form. The individual segments which constitute the cactus body are How It Looks: This cacti has no central stem or leaves. Touch, and are best removed from flesh with tweezers. Named for its visual appearance, theīunny Ear Cactus, also called the Polka-Dot Cactus, has the scientific name of Opuntia microdasys. This plant has theĪppearance of a shrub, and spreads out to cover between 2-5 feet of ground as a mature plant. The Bunny cacti is native to northern Mexico and desert regions stretching into Arizona.
