Opuntia microdasys var. pallida cristata
Cactus likes a sunny habitat.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. Do not water in winter.
It can tolerate -6.7 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
It is an atypical cristate form that has unusually wavy cells.
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida cristata, also called Opuntia microdasys monstruosa, is the cristate form of this beautiful cactus. It stands out with its unusually wavy cells and its classic form comes from Mexico.
The plant is covered with miniature pads without spines but with numerous yellowish hairy glochidia, which are siliceous trichomes arranged in dense clusters. New cells then grow on top of the old, light green cells. This forms a medium-sized shrub that can grow up to 60 cm tall and 1.5 m wide, but such sizes are not common in central European conditions.
The flowers, with yellow petals and yellow anthers, are up to 5 cm across. After flowering, round to ovoid fruits up to 5 cm long grow on the plant. They are red to purplish in colour with glochidic spotting (they grow like spines). However, the plant flowers and fruits very rarely.
This prickly pear is easy to grow, but the plant requires plenty of light. It can be fertilised in spring if deemed appropriate. In winter, ideally keep the temperature around 8-10 °C and do not water. This plant is a decorative and interesting addition for cactus lovers.