Thus, take care when handling a bunny ear cactus and always wear protective gloves.

The cactus has a slow growth rate and takes up to 20 years to reach maturity.

It rarely blooms indoors.

Bunny ear cactus in terracotta pot with round leaf pads with small yellow dots

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Bunny Ear Cactus Care

This cactus is easy to care for and thrives on neglect.

Ideally, this cactus should receive between six to eight hours ofdirect sunlighteach day.

When grown outdoors, ensure that the cactus is not planted in a location that is not shaded.

Bunny ear cactus with round yellow dotted leaf pads surrounded with white perlite

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Soil

Like most cacti, the bunny ear cactus prefers dry, sandy, well-draining soils.

A standardcactus or succulent potting mixis sufficient and is easily found at most nurseries or garden centers.

Water

This desert dweller is drought-tolerant and does not require frequent watering to survive.

Bunny ear cactus oblong leaf pads with small yellow dots closeup

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Remember that in the desert, cacti survive weeks, sometimes even months, without water.

Fertilizer

This cactus grows well in poor-quality soils and does not require regularfertilization.

Is This the Right Plant for You?

Bunny ear cactus leaf pads with small yellow dots and tiny spikes closeup

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Cutting off the tips of the pads encourages branching and fuller growth.

Alternatively, use tongs to ensure that you dont touch the cactus.

Overwintering

The cactus is not frost-tolerant.

Repotting a bunny ear cactus (Opuntia microdasys) on a wooden background.

Westend61 / Getty Images

The most common disease to watch out for isroot rotwhich results from overwatering or excess moisture.

A telltale sign of root rot is brown mushy stems and roots.

Unfortunately, once root rot is found it is usually too late to do anything about it.

Remove the unaffected pads promptly and propagate them.

In the United States there are no restrictions.

Drooping can be a sign of overwatering or underwatering.

Review your watering routine to see if that doesn’t fix the problem.

As a houseplant, it rarely flowers.