Synonyms:

Opuntia platyacantha
Tephrocactus platyacanthus
Opuntia hickenii
Tephrocactus hickenii
Opuntia neuquensis
Maihueniopsis neuquensis
Maihueniopsis albomarginata
Maihoueniopsis darwinii
Opuntia glomerata

Tepherocactus Neuquensis is native to Neuquèn that is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern of Patagonia.
Is a cacti that grow in a mountain and steppe area where the thermal excursion is very hight.

Description Text

Description:

T. Neuquensis is a cacti with an elongated dark green or greyish-green stem, which branches easily.
In the upper of areoles with glochids there are white spines curved in different direction (most commonly downwards).
Flowers are yellow

Cultivation:

This cacti is very strong: it prefers a full sun exposure and is hardly sensitive to moisture. In winter Tephrocactus neuquensis can resist even for short period at temperatures below 0°C with dry soil. We recommended to shelter it in ventilated place.
Watering enough during the growing period. Gradually decrease watering until stops during the winter

Propagation:

Can propagate either by cutting or by seed.
Best reproduced is by cuttings: you can use little branches, wait until their wound dries completely up before putting them in a new soil.

Curiosity:

The name of the genus Tephrocactus derives from Greek “Tephra” meaning “ash” which refers to the grayish color of epidermis. Neuquensis derives from is native habitat: Neuquèn (province of Argentina).