Is This Houseplant a Cactus or a Succulent?

I bought this from a shop last year, I don’t know whether its a cactus or a succulent or some hybrid? Please can you help identify what it is so I can read up on it?

Thank you in advance 🙂

 

 

Hi Leem,

How to grow, identify, and care for Eve's needleCactus

Your plant is called a Austrocylindropuntia subulata. The simple common names are:

Eve’s Needle Cactus, Eve’s Pin Cactus, Long Spine Cactus.

Austrocylindropuntia is in the cactus family. They have tuberous roots, cylindrical stems, and round cylindrical leaves about 5″ in length.

Light: Eve’s Needle Cactus needs very bright light but no direct sun. The heat from direct sun with soften the leaves.

Water: During spring and summer, allow the soil to dry out before watering. Over watering is the main reason this plant dies. During the winter, decrease your water even more. Water monthly when the soil is very dry.

Soil: Use a Cactus soil that is sandy and drains quickly.

Temperature: Cool temperatures during the winter when the plant is resting (50°F/10°C)

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks when the plant is actively growing with a cactus plant food