Opuntia tomentosa in the ground
Downy cladode Opuntia tomentosa
Opuntia tomentosa flowers
Opuntia tomentosa fruit
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Opuntia tomentosa, a multi-faceted cactus
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Like us, Opuntia tomentosa changes over the years. But don't expect to see wrinkles and white hairs on its cladodes! As it ages, it loses its spines and develops a woody trunk.
How to recognize Opuntia tomentosa?
In its natural habitat, the desert areas of Mexico and Guatemala, Opuntia tomentosa reaches a height of four meters. But this tree-like cactus grows more slowly in our latitudes and in pots.
Older specimens have a single, woody trunk. It is topped by highly branched stems made up of cladodes.
The green, fleshy cladodes are spatulate. Covered with a fine white down, they are dotted with areoles. Each is bristling with glochids, prickly prickles.
As with opuntia microdasys, green, conical leaves may appear on juvenile cladodes. These are deciduous and disappear after a few days. Young cladodes may also bear short, white spines, which fall off when the cladode matures.
Flowering takes place in summer. Opuntia tomentosa is adorned with yellow and red flowers.
Opuntia tomentosa is non-toxic to humans and animals. The fruit is even edible. But it's best to keep the plant out of the reach of children: its glochids can cause irritation.
Our maintenance tips
Opuntia tomentosa is not a poisonous plant. But its prickles and thorns can cause damage. Always wear thick gloves and long sleeves when handling it.
Think carefully before planting opuntia tomentosa in the ground. The plant reproduces easily and it can be difficult to control its growth.
Watering
Water when the soil has completely dried. You can use reclaimed rainwater or mains water, provided it is not too hard.
Avoid over-watering. Moisten the substrate without soaking it. Too much water can rot the plant.
Be sure to remove any stagnant water from the saucer or planter. It could also rot the roots.
Spray
Opuntia tomentosa grow in arid regions and do not like humidity. No need to spray them.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Opuntia tomentosa to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Repotting is easier when the old substrate is dry. Wait a few days after watering before installing your Opuntia tomentosa in its new pot.
Obtain a perforated pot slightly larger than the root ball. You can place a bed of gravel or clay balls at the bottom to optimize drainage.
Then pour in a layer of potting soil for cacti and succulents. Plant your Opuntia tomentosa in the center. Add substrate and tamp down.
Remember to wear gloves and long sleeves during the whole operation to protect yourself from thorns!
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Apply cactus and succulent fertilizer to promote growth.
Prune
You can prune your Opuntia tomentosa to control its shape and growth.
Using pliers, hold the cladode you wish to section. Cut it off at the base using clean, sharp secateurs.
Plantation
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Choose a sunny, well-drained location. This could be the top of a slope, for example.
Dig a hole the size of the root ball. Plant your Opuntia tomentosa in the center and fill it in. You can use garden soil. If it's heavy, mix it with sand and pebbles.
Water for the first time to encourage rooting.
You can mulch the soil with gravel or a mineral material to keep the base of your Opuntia tomentosa dry.
Be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin from thorns and glochids.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Locate a healthy racket at least ten centimetres long. Hold it with a pair of pliers. Cut at the base (where two cladodes meet) with sharp, clean pruning shears.
Leave your cutting to dry for seven to fifteen days in a dry place, until a callus forms at the base.
You don't have to cut a cladode. If a racket falls out (during repotting, for example), you can dry it out and replant it.
Pour a mixture of potting soil and sand into a pierced pot. Plant your cutting vertically.
Water well for the first time. Then stop watering until the first signs of growth appear.
Disease / Threat
Information
| Family | Cactaceae - Cactaceae |
| Type | Nopal - Opuntia |
| Species | Opuntia tomentosa - Opuntia tomentosa |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Edible fruit Beginner Increvable |
| Origin |
Central America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 10a |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower colors |
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| Fruit color |
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