Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog - cactus needles!

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bzobell San Diego, CA May 29, 2007

We just bought one of these cactus when traveling to Borrego, California. We're noticing more and more that just carrying the container the plant is in, very fine needles from the cactus seem to get into our hands or arms--no direct contact with the cactus at all. Ouch! We're considering throwing it away. Does anybody know anything about this? Thank you!

Or on second thought, maybe it's the Microdasy Opuntia and Santa Rita Opuntia we bought at the same time. I just read about glochids (hairs) that come on these and are irritants, though these weren't visible. I hope the Arizona rainblow is okay because it's so pretty.

This message was edited May 28, 2007 11:13 PM

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 29, 2007

The Opuntia glochids are REALLY nasty, I had O. microdasys and got some in my fingers when pads fell off and I didn't pick them up carefully enough. They don't just jump out and attack you though, you had to have come into contact with them but I guess it's possible some of them may have fallen off the plant and be on the container somewhere and you wouldn't see them. I'm not familiar at all with your rainbow hedgehog cactus though but my guess would be the Opuntia.

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bzobell San Diego, CA May 29, 2007

Thanks. I can't decide whether I even want to plant the Opuntia what with the glachids both of us have all over our hands and bodies. Too bad since they're so pretty.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 29, 2007

Definitely don't plant them anywhere near where you or your kids/pets if you have any might brush up against them--they are best admired from a distance!

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