Puna incahuasi

Family

Opuntia

Native

 Uruguay

Description

Puna incahuasi is a small geophytic cactus which grows in dense clumps. The stem is greyish-green, thin, arranged in ball-shaped tubercles and emerge from the ground for 1 cm and can form large tufts with more than 100 heads. The roots are tuberous and deep, specialized to withstand to the drought. The leaves are very small and fall off early. The areoles are absent and the spines are inserted directly into the stem. The spines are short yellow, flat, curved, pointed, not very dangerous and few in numbers. Blooming occurs during the summer and the blossom is borne at the apex of the plant. The flowers are red to violet in color, 4-6 cm in diameter, very show with white stamens.

Environment

Demands full light growing for most of the year, except during the winter cycle. For the plant's health, light should be reduced to partial sun during this time.

Opuntia is a desert species . Water the plant when the top one inch of soil is dry. Allow the water to drain out of the pot and remove any excess from the saucer. During fall and winter, water lightly only every 2- 3 weeks. Like most cacti, this specimen demands sandy soil-bases that drain easily

Feed Cactus monthly with low nitrogen fertilizer but it should stop one month before the planned winter cycle for the plant's health.

Landscape Uses

It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small.