Tephrocactus articulatus v. strobiliformis is an attractive brown color cactus has globular shaped sections with minimal spines. The sections look like small green pine cones. You are bidding on 4 pieces. It will be shipped bare root. Beware of the barbed spines. Use paper not gloves when handling. Sections fall off almost to the touch. Expect some sections to be separated upon arrival. These sections can be planted and rooted. Let it root before watering. Roots can be determined by slightly tugging on the plant and detecting resistance.
Please read our FAQ in our cactusbylin ebay store.


Each nugget is 1-2 inches long. You are bidding on 4 nuggets. We don't want to ship a whole plant because it breaks apart very easy. When you open the box it would just be a pile of nuggets.


Here is a Tephrocactus tutorial to help you get started. 
  1. The sections are very loosely connected. They become separated easily just from touch. Even if we sent 4 connected pieces, they would separate by the time you opened the package. 
  2. When planting just lay each nugget on top of the soil. Whichever skin that touches the soil is where the roots will grow into the soil. You can plant them in four separate pots or a single pot. Each nugget will grow to form a new string of nuggets. 
  3. It is not necessary to have roots on the nugget before planting. If roots were included, they would die and be replaced by new roots.
  4. Recommend simply fill your pot with cactus mix then just lay the sections on top of the soil. Then just check on them once a month or so, nudging them slightly to see if they are attached to the soil by roots. Once rooted in you can dampen the soil slightly, allow the soil to dry out between watering. As we go into the cold season, limit water until next spring. Give as much sun as possible.
  5. In general don't water Prickly Pear Cacti until they grow roots. It may take 30-60 days. If you water while they are in the soil before roots, they may rot. However, even though the pad may look dead, it may grow a new pad within a year. It does not matter which way they are planted. However, you typically get roots faster when they are laying flat on the soil. The down side of the pad will begin to grow roots.