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Opuntia tuna monstrosa
Opuntia tuna monstrosa
Waterlow
Lightfull sunHumiditylow
Min. temperature-5 °CJanuary
Only very rarely, a little water so the roots don’t dry out completely.
No feeding now.
Cool and bright, 3–10 °C: unheated room, stairwell, cold windowsill or frost-free greenhouse.
February
Only very rarely, a little water so the roots don’t dry out completely.
No feeding now.
Cool and bright, 3–10 °C: unheated room, stairwell, cold windowsill or frost-free greenhouse.
March
Gentle start: the first small drink once you see buds or new growth and it warms up.
First weak dose at the end of the month if it is actively growing.
The sunniest window (south or west).
Move it somewhere brighter and warmer and end wintering. Get it used to strong sun gradually.
If roots fill the pot: fresh soil, a pot 1–2 cm larger. Water sparingly for a week afterwards.
April
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry.
Cactus fertiliser once a month at half strength.
The sunniest window (south or west).
If roots fill the pot: fresh soil, a pot 1–2 cm larger. Water sparingly for a week afterwards.
It flowers next month – once you see buds, don’t move it any more.
May
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry.
Cactus fertiliser once a month at half strength.
Best outdoors: sunny balcony, terrace or garden – acclimatise it to full sun gradually.
After mid-May (last frosts) it can go outside – keep it in partial shade for the first 1–2 weeks to avoid sunburn.
It usually flowers now – don’t turn or move it, and log the bloom in your diary!
June
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry – more often in heatwaves, preferably in the evening.
Cactus fertiliser once a month at half strength.
Best outdoors: sunny balcony, terrace or garden – acclimatise it to full sun gradually.
It usually flowers now – don’t turn or move it, and log the bloom in your diary!
Above 35 °C, shade it at midday to prevent sunburn.
July
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry – more often in heatwaves, preferably in the evening.
Cactus fertiliser once a month at half strength.
Best outdoors: sunny balcony, terrace or garden – acclimatise it to full sun gradually.
Above 35 °C, shade it at midday to prevent sunburn.
August
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry – more often in heatwaves, preferably in the evening.
Cactus fertiliser once a month at half strength.
Best outdoors: sunny balcony, terrace or garden – acclimatise it to full sun gradually.
Above 35 °C, shade it at midday to prevent sunburn.
September
Deeply, but only once the soil is completely dry.
No feeding now.
Best outdoors: sunny balcony, terrace or garden – acclimatise it to full sun gradually.
Bring it in when nights drop below 5 °C. Check for pests first.
October
Taper off gradually: very little by the end of the month.
No feeding now.
The sunniest window (south or west).
Move it to its cool, bright winter spot and taper off watering. Log it with one click in the Care hub.
November · now
Only very rarely, a little water so the roots don’t dry out completely.
No feeding now.
Cool and bright, 3–10 °C: unheated room, stairwell, cold windowsill or frost-free greenhouse.
December
Only very rarely, a little water so the roots don’t dry out completely.
No feeding now.
Cool and bright, 3–10 °C: unheated room, stairwell, cold windowsill or frost-free greenhouse.
Its tiny glochids lodge in skin – handle it with tongs or folded newspaper.
Glochids injure skin and mouth. De-spined pads are great tortoise food.
Growth photos
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