Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
Just right for a rockery
|
Opuntia, a popular cactus, looks attractive as a hedge plant and in a rockery.
|
THE OPUNTIA or Bunny Ears cactus is one of the largest and most widely distributed groups of cacti. It originated in Mexico. It varies in shape and size. Opuntia microdasys is a very xerophyte. It branches profusely and has flattened oval segments each measuring 10-12 cm in length, 4-6 cm in width and 1/2 cm in thickness. The segments are pale and spineless, but the areoles, which are spaced close together over the surface of every segment, are golden yellow.
Opuntia does not have leaves, but small, soft textured cylindrical `leaves' sometimes appear on new growth. These soon shrivel and fall off.
In summer, the plant produces pale yellow bowl-shaped flowers, measuring four to five cm across, often tinged with red or pink on their outer side. Opuntia does not flower indoors (in homes) but may grow very big in the wild and produce magnificent blooms.
Opuntia needs as much direct sunlight as possible. Place it in sunny spots during the growing period. Use good porous garden soil mixed with coarse sand and peat. Re-pot annually. The prickliness of this plant makes this operation difficult. Wrap thick fold of newspaper around the plant to protect your hands.
For propagation, remove a stem segment by cutting it with a knife. Allow the detached segment to dry for three days and then insert in the potting mixture. Opuntia is cultivated as a hedge plant and also to decorate gardens, particularly rockeries with large stones. As a houseplant, Opuntia can be prevented from growing too big if planted in smaller pots.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
|
