Opuntiad for ID please

[Grimm]

I bought another un-labelled cactus. I did some research before buying it, I'm fairly certain it a Cumulopuntia of some kind, maybe corotilla, but would really appreciate a second opinion please. Thanks

[phil_SK]

I'm quite surprised to see these in the garden centre trade! It's Cumulopuntia subterranea, possibly the relatively recently discovered ssp pulcherrima rather than the more usual ssp subterranea.

[Grimm]

I'm quite surprised to see these in the garden centre trade! It's Cumulopuntia subterranea, possibly the relatively recently discovered ssp pulcherrima rather than the more usual ssp subterranea.

Many thanks I would agree that it looks more like pulcherrima. If I remember I will also take a photo of the root, and an update after it has acclimatised/settled (assuming I don't kill/rot it )

I think this is a plant I read about last year that I was kinda interested in, so this is a lucky find!

[ElieEstephane]

Maybe try to graft one of the offsets as a backup?

[DaveW]

It's fairly hardy, mine has been down below freezing, though completely dry for months, this last week. The red flower makes it more attractive than Maihueniopsis (Tephorocactus) subterranea and some now consider it a good species rather than a variety of M. subterranea.

http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/CACT ... lcherrimus

Before it was named M. pulcherrima it went around as M. subterranea f. Incahuasi, where it was originally found and you will still sometimes find it under that name.

[Grimm]

Cleaned up and drying before being potted up

[Grimm]

After a couple of months, the cactus is shriveled but with lots of healthy looking offsets forming:



I also went back last week and found B&Q had a couple more, so bought this following one to live outside. Unfortunately it has some oedema (see the black marks) which I have to make sure dry out fully without developing into rot: