Austrocylindropuntia subulata; a somewhat longer and more complicated name, but that refers to the same fast-growing and easy-growing plant that we can have even in pots.

This species is very interesting, because if it is well cared for, its high ornamental value stands out a lot. While it is true that this ornamentality it is usually appreciated only by those fans of thorny cacti, it is also true that Anyone who wants to protect their land with plants will find this species a great

Like practically all cacti, this species she is a lover of the sun, a heliophile that is called in technical terms. The meaning of this word is as follows: a living being (plant or animal) that requires direct exposure to the sun for its development. But be very careful with this: that it needs many hours of sunlight does not mean that it has to be put there the first day we buy it, and much less if they had it protected.

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How to avoid sunburn on cactus?

Sunburns in newly acquired cacti are very frequent, precisely because, of course, we are so used to seeing photos of these plants in their habitats, in the sun, that when we acquire them our reaction is usually to place them in those places. But you can only put your opuntia subulata in a sunny exhibition if in the nursery they already had it in those conditions, otherwise, you will have to get used to it little by little.

Can it be inside the house / flat?

It's not advisable. Homes are not usually bright enough for cacti. So unless you have a glazed interior patio, or a room with windows through which sunlight enters, it is better not to have it there since it would have an abnormal development (etiolated and weak stems, it may not flower, presence of pests and diseases, etc.).

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Irrigation

escaso. During the summer with one or two weekly irrigations it usually has enough, and the rest of the year once every 15, 20 or even 30 days. It is very important to let the soil dry completely. Do not be afraid of watering less: I can tell you that in my area (south of Mallorca, with annual rainfall of 350mm and temperatures between 38ºC maximum and -1,5ºC) those that are planted in the ground hardly water ; and those that are in pots I would almost dare to say that they only pour water on them when they remember.

In any case, if you were very thirsty, you would see that the stems wrinkle. It is not advisable to reach that extreme, but if it does, it would be easily recovered by simply putting the pot in a basin of water for about 30 minutes, or watering it with a hose or watering can in case of having it planted in the

From early spring to late summer It is advisable -although not mandatory- to pay your Austrocylindropuntia subulata with fertilizers for cacti (like this one they sell here!), following the indications specified on

The Cactus opuntia subulata It is a very resistant species, so much so that you just have to look to control the molluscs (snails and slugs) as these animals tend to eat everything.

Rusticity

It resists weak and specific frosts of up to -4ºC.