Opuntia cochenillifera cactus Features
Morphology: Opuntia cochenillifera has a cylindrical trunk, up to 15-20 cm in diameter. Branches are elliptical, oblong, narrowly elliptical or narrowly obovate, 8-40 cm long, 5-7.5 cm wide, rounded at the apex and base, with entire margins, thick and flat, glabrous, dark green to light blue-green.
Thorns: Small nests are scattered, usually thornless, occasionally with 1-3 thorns in the nests on the edges of old branches, needle-shaped, light gray, spreading, 3-9 mm long, and fall off early.
Flowers: Flowers are nearly cylindrical, 1.3-1.5 cm in diameter; tepals are erect, red, sepals are scaly, broadly triangular or semicircular, petal tepals are ovate to obovate, 13-15 mm long; filaments are red, erect and protruding, anthers are pink; style is pink, stigma is 6-8, light green
Fruit: Berries are elliptical-spherical, 3-5 cm long, 2.5-3 cm in diameter, glabrous, red, with 10-13 small, slightly raised nests on each side, and no thorns
Opuntia cochenillifera cactus Size：
- Opuntia cochenillifera is a fleshy shrub or small tree, up to 4 meters in height (up to 9 meters in its native habitat)
Opuntia cochenillifera cactus Special Care or Planting instructions
- Light
Opuntia cochenillifera needs full sun, at least five hours of direct sunlight per day, suitable for placement in a sunny windowsill or bright indirect light.
- Water
This cactus is very drought-tolerant. When watering, the soil should be allowed to dry completely between watering to avoid root rot caused by overwatering. More water is needed during the summer growing season, while watering should be greatly reduced in winter, about once a month and a half.
- Soil
Prefers a loose, well-drained soil mixture. You can use a special cactus soil or add sand and fine volcanic rocks to ordinary potting soil to improve soil structure and drainage.
- Propagation
Propagation by stem cuttings is a simple and effective method. Separate the branched palm pieces and leave them for a few days. After the cut is dry and callus tissue is formed, plant it in well-drained soil. Keep the newly planted cuttings slightly moist until they take root.
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