Bunny ear cactus care guide

The bunny ear cactus grows flat, oval pads that sprout in pairs, like ears. It has no long spines. Each fuzzy dot is a tuft of tiny barbed bristles called glochids. They look soft. They are not. Grow it in strong sun, water it little, and handle it with tools, not hands.

Light

Give it the sunniest spot you have. A south or west window is best. It wants several hours of direct sun.

In low light, new pads grow thin, pale, and stretched. Turn the pot every few weeks so it grows even.

If it moves outside for summer, start it in shade for a week, then move it into sun over another week. Sudden full sun burns the pads.

Water

Water when the soil is fully dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer. In spring and summer, that is about every two to three weeks.

In winter, water once a month or less. A cool, dry winter rest keeps it healthy. Too much water, most of all in winter, rots the base. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a gritty cactus mix. A clay pot with a drainage hole helps the soil dry out.

Repot every two to three years in spring. Wrap the plant in a folded band of newspaper or use kitchen tongs to hold it. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Never mist it.

It likes warm summers. In winter, a cool room between 10 and 15°C (50 and 60°F) gives it a rest. Keep it above 5°C (40°F).

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Handling the glochids

Glochids come off at the lightest touch and stick in skin. They go right through cloth gloves.

Use kitchen tongs, or a folded strip of newspaper, to move or hold it. If glochids get in your skin, press tape on the spot and pull it off. For a big patch, spread white school glue, let it dry, and peel it off.

Keep it where people and pets will not brush against it.

Pruning

Pull or cut off pads that grow too far out or lean. Use tongs to hold the pad and a clean knife to cut at the joint.

Propagation

Twist or cut off a healthy pad at the joint. Let it dry for a few days until the cut end calluses. Set it upright in dry cactus mix, about 2 cm (1 in) deep. Give it a small drink after a week. Roots form in three to six weeks. A new pad on top means it took.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Thin, pale, stretched pads	Not enough light
Soft, brown, or black base	Rot from too much water
Wrinkled, thin pads in summer	Thirst. Water deep.
Wrinkled pads in winter	Normal during rest
Tan or white patches on top	Sunburn
White, cottony spots	Mealybugs

Pests

Mealybugs and scale are the most common pests. Dab them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Spider mites can show up in hot, dry rooms.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists bunny ear cactus as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The glochids are the danger. They stick in mouths, noses, and paws and are hard to remove. Keep it out of reach of curious pets.

Flowers

Bunny ear cactus can bloom with pale yellow flowers in spring. Indoors, it needs strong sun all summer and a cool, dry winter rest to bloom. Many indoor plants never flower.

Varieties

• Opuntia microdasys has golden yellow glochids. It is the common one.
• ‘Albata’ has white glochids and is often sold as polka dot cactus.
• Cinnamon cactus, Opuntia rufida, looks close but has reddish-brown glochids. Care is the same.