Rose or Cactus?
I was captivated by the flower buds....looked like rose buds, and the pink was just the type of pastel pink I like very much. However I do not like the thorns !
This plant is a actually a cactus, but it must have adapted to its environment by now because it hardly fits into what we normally think of as a cactus - it has luscious green leaves ! The leaves are fleshy, thick and feels smooth like plastic. Like most cactus, the thorns are a killer, they are really long, thin and sharp as well., more painful and threatening than those needles on the syringe! I like this plant, but the thorns make me reluctant to even go near it. I placed it in a strategic location where one won't accidentally bang into it. Safer that way....!
To make this plant grow shrubby, it needs pruning. Otherwise it has a tendency to grow long and thin. The herbaceous stem is not too strong, needs some external support. To propagate this plant, just cut a stem and insert into some soil. This cactus does not grow fast, so one has got to be patient with it. It is not a prolific bloomer either. It is a tough plant, just avoid over watering it. It loves to be in the sunlight, but it does not fuss being in partial shade. Unlike normal cactus, do not allow the medium to dry out. If this plant is short of water, you can see its leaves turning yellow and the stem a bit shriveled. This plant is a survivor, very tough plant.
There is some medicinal usage for this plant, mainly said to have anti-cancer properties.
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