Opuntia microdasys var. alba
Cactus likes a sunny habitat.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Do not water in winter.
It can tolerate -9.4 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
In Mexico, Opuntia microdasys var. alba is used to make sweets and jams when properly processed.
Opuntia microdasys var. alba, also known as Angel Wings or Bunny Ears, is a cactus native to central and northern Mexico. The name refers to the white "spines" that give this cactus its distinctive appearance.
The plant is covered with miniature pads without thorns but with numerous white hairy glochidia, which are siliceous trichomes arranged in dense clusters. These clusters are further apart and less numerous than in the albispina variant. New cells then grow on top of the old, light green cells. This creates a tall shrub that can grow up to 60 cm tall and 1.5 m wide, but this is more likely to happen in the natural environment.
The flowers of Opuntia microdasys var. alba are lemon yellow, up to 5 cm across, and appear in summer. After flowering, red fruits grow on the plant.
This prickly pear is easy to grow, but the plant requires plenty of light. It can be fertilised in the spring if deemed appropriate. In winter, ideally keep the temperature at around 8-10 °C and do not water. This plant is a decorative and interesting addition for cactus lovers.