La Opuntia microdasys It is one of the few species of the genus that, in addition to being able to grow in relatively small gardens, can be grown for many years in a pot. And that's not to mention that it is one of the easiest cacti to care for.
It is not surprising then that we meet her in any nursery, garden store or local market. But, What is it that makes it so special?
Opuntia microdasys var. albispine
Opuntia microdasys is the scientific name of a cactus native to central and northern Mexico. The species was described by Johann Georg Christian Lehmann and published in the Enumeratio Diagnostica Cactearum in 1837. It is popularly known as Angel Wings, Rabbit Ears, Blind Prickly Pear and Blind Prickly Pear.
It is a highly branched plant that forms very dense clumps up to 1 meter high. The segments (leaves) are 8 to 15cm long, and are oval or oval-elongated and green in color. It has large areoles from which there are dense glochids (very thin leaf spines, usually short) of yellow or brown color. The flowers are yellow and measure about 4cm. It blooms in summer. The fruits are red, dark and small in size.
Its cultivation is, as we anticipated, very simple. The only thing to keep in mind are three things:
- It must be placed in full sun. Although it grows well in semi-shade, the ideal is to gradually accustom it to direct exposure of the sun king starting in autumn if it comes from a greenhouse.
- Irrigation has to be rather scarce. No more than one and two irrigations per week.
- Thorns are very treacherousWhy do I say this? Because it is enough to touch it for a few glochidia to get stuck in the skin. So be careful. 
Otherwise, it resists cold well but frost hurts it. From experience I can tell you that it can hold up to -1ºC if it has dry land, but it is not recommended that it be outside if the temperature drops below 0ºC.