please help me identify this very painful cactus

Cactus Identification

I bought this cactus online along with a few other plants from the same person.


They didn't know what it is.
I wonder if anyone on this forum has ever come across it before?


Im sure they would remember as it is treacherously painful
It looks harmless enough until you accidentally touch it.

I like it because it stung an uninvited "Official intruder" and i saw it all on my cctv afterwards
since then i have grown to like my cactus pal, mind you just a tad though as i still remember the pain.

 

Not one I have come across, but I have a book with a picture of Opuntia vestila, looks very similar.

 

Amazing
i think you are correct
Thank you

 

Thank you for identifying the painful cactus
What is the book you used to identify this plant?

After looking at some of the photos online this one seems to be on its way to recovery.

It was in a bad condition, i didnt think it was going to make it.
Im glad it did
Now its time to learn how to propergate it !

 

It was in a really old hardback copy of "Cacti in Colour" by Brian and Edgar Lamb.
Only a small book probably not still in print.

Propagation of Opuntias is usually very easy, you just cut a piece off at the narrowest point, leave to dry for a week and then pot it up in gritty compost, just dont water too much until rooted and dont bury too deep.

 

I agree with Pete Opuntia vestita, I have Opuntia verschaffeltii similar but less furry, both come from Bolivia I've had mine years and it's never flowered; supposed to be red.
The book I have (black and white photos) is by J Borg a Maltese Doctor and dates back to 1959, like me.

 

Yes; they propagate quite easily as Pete describes.

 

I agree Opuntia vestitia ... I have a cristate form of it.

 

I see they have come up with a new name for this type of Opuntia.
Austrocylindropuntia.

It may well have been just cylindopuntia before at some stage.
Most of the thin cylindrical ones were in this group years ago.

 

Wow years and no flowers...

I wonder what it takes to make it flower
I will try using some professional grade water soluble fertiliser and see if a healthy dose of micronutrients will help.
that is my go to solution when it comes to encouraging plants to flower. Without changing the plants light hours

 

Austrocylindropuntia is what i saw online as well, after you pointed out that its a Opuntia
Thats awesome

 

Nice

 

In my experience Opuntias dont flower well in cultivation in this country.
We just dont get the intense sun and heat that they need, even in a greenhouse.

I've have one Cylindropuntia that flowers and I have had a very hardy platyopuntia flower, but you have to treat them hard and fertiliser is the worst thing you can do IMO.

 

The place they live at now gets extremely hot in the summer as it holds on to heat from the day before.

Thanks for the tip i will only go up to 15%-25% of the recommended concentration
Limited to once every 2 months during the growing season

That way it wont be too much fertiliser for this cactus.

In the wild(online photos) it looks like it can tolerate a bit more water then a desert cactus.
But i will take care not to over do it