Cactus ID

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
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fingerprints
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:42 am

Cactus ID

Post by fingerprints »

Hello!

I've looked through all of the resources on this site, but I can't ID my cactus.

Photo album:
https://imgur.com/a/exJx3

About:
  • Bought at Lowe's in a semi-arid (bordering on desert) climate in the summer of 2016.
  • Moved to humid Seattle that fall; cactus receives no direct sunlight.
  • Spring of 2017 it grew the horizontal bits, but nothing more.
  • Within the last month, it has grown the top portion above the horizontal bits. The needles of that portion are soft.
  • It has never bloomed, and I don't see any obvious place where it might bloom.
I'm happy to provide more information if needed. Thanks for looking!
esp_imaging
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Re: Cactus ID

Post by esp_imaging »

It looks like a Cylindropuntia. Or possibly another cylindrical-stemmed Opuntia relative.

It's quite etiolated (grown with too little light) so doesn't look typical - the same plant gown in full sun will have thicker more robust stems and probably more robust spines.
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7george
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Re: Cactus ID

Post by 7george »

Looks like A. subulata or A. cylindrica. Needs to reach bigger size for flowers and much more direct sunlight to grow.

http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Aus ... ndropuntia
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
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fingerprints
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Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:42 am

Re: Cactus ID

Post by fingerprints »

The growth pattern of A. subulata definitely looks similar!
fingerprints
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:42 am

Re: Cactus ID

Post by fingerprints »

The photos of Cylindropuntia whipplei look pretty similar. I think I'll have to put it under a grow light to solve the mystery!
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greenknight
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Re: Cactus ID

Post by greenknight »

The long leaves on the new growth (yes, those are leaves, not needles) don't fit Cylindropuntia, those are typical of Austrocylindropuntia species. Agreed that it needs a lot more light - if you can't give it sunlight, it needs to be under a strong grow light.
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