opuntia
rufida
rufida
Care level
Easy
This fuzzy cactus is covered in soft, reddish-brown hair-like spines that give it a teddy bear-like appearance and glow beautifully when backlit by the sun. Unlike its pricklier relatives, these deceptively soft-looking spines can actually detach easily and stick to anything that brushes against them, earning it a reputation as one of the most sneakily defensive cacti.
Care & maintenance
Light
Light that enters through west or south-facing windows, the most intense light for your interior that will expose plants directly to sunlight.
Temperature
Wide range (0°C - 40°C)
Fertilization frequency
Low
Once per season.
Soil
Choose a Cactus mix: A gritty, fast-draining mix that prevents water retention. Replicates the sandy, rocky soils of arid regions.
If you want to create your own substrate, you can make a mixture of the following soils:
Click on the soil name for more information.
Pot
Wide/Shallow
Prefer a pot that is wider than it is deep.
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Features
Size & growth
Medium
Upright
Slow growth
This plant grows slowly. It can reach 30 to 90 cm in height or spread.
It grows upwards without support.
Toxicity
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| Human |
Reproduction & propagation
Fruits & flowers
Flowering & not self-pollinating
The opuntia rufida can produce flowers and therefore fruits.
This plant is not capable of self-pollination, it will not be able to produce fruits if it is not pollinated by another individual.