A Guide to Growing and Caring for Opuntia Cacti, Often Known as Prickly Pears
The vast majority of variants possess glochids, which are composed of tufts of barbed bristles and have the potential to provoke extremely severe allergic skin reactions.
A spine is absent from several of the forms, notably O. ellisiana.
After proper preparation, the majority of plant kinds can be consumed, including their pads, flowers, and fruit.
In spite of the fact that some cold-resistant types, such as the Eastern prickly pear, can be found in warm, dry locations such as the Southwest, cacti are not native to these areas (O. humifusa).
It's possible that the pads will start to seem shriveled and wilted as the plants get ready for winter, but come spring, they'll soon regain their vibrant green color.
What Are the Essentials
Zones: They range from 9 to 11, but certain cultivars, such as O. humifusa, may withstand the frigid conditions of zone 4.
Height/Spread: The variations include low-growing trees that can grow to a height of 10 to 15 feet, as well as low-growing cacti that can grow to a height of 6 to 12 inches and a width of 18 inches.
The blooming season lasts from June through July.
The color of the flowers of the prickly pear can vary according on the cultivar, although it is most commonly yellow, red, or purple. However, these colors are not set in stone.
Fruits come in a wide variety of colors, including red, green, and yellow-orange tones.
Prickly pear cactuses are resistant to being eaten by deer due to the thorny structure that they have.
Getting Grow
Although cuttings can be started at any time, it is recommended that they be planted in the spring or summer for the greatest results.
The latter part of April is, by far, the ideal time to sow seeds.
Prickly pears must be planted in a spot that receives full sun and has soil that drains well before they can be grown successfully.
Place them at the same level at which they are developing at the moment; digging them deeper can cause them to fall apart.
Handling the pads properly is important not just because they are there for your protection but also because they could get top-heavy and snap off.
Because of their weight and the difficulty of inserting them into the hole, prickly pears are an activity that may benefit from the assistance of a second set of hands.
Care
The cultivation and maintenance of a prickly pear cactus, often known as an Opuntia:
Light There should be at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, ranging from full sun to moderate shade.
A combination of potting soil and sand, or a cactus mix that has good drainage, should be used as the soil.
Plant that can survive in dry conditions if you water it deeply once a week during the summer and less frequently during the winter.
Keep warm and avoid temperatures below freezing.
An application of cactus fertilizer once every month is recommended during the spring and summer.
During the pruning process, remove any blooms, fruit, or pads that are already dead.
Repotting should be done every two to three years using a potting mix designed specifically for cacti.
Offsets and stem cuttings are also acceptable methods of propagation.
While handling, gloves are strongly recommended due to the sharpness of the spines.
Controlling pests requires vigilance with regard to the presence of fungus, scale insects, and mealybugs.
During the bloom season, which spans from spring through summer, beautiful flowers of every hue and kind are created.
Propagation
Early development from a seed is slow, and it may take between three and four years for your plant to produce blooms and fruit after it has been grown from a seed. To germinate, the seeds require cool, dark conditions, and throughout this period they should be maintained moist.
The process of propagation from pads is significantly less complicated and produces results much more quickly. How to do it: By adhering to the procedures provided above for pruning, you will be able to remove pads that are at least six months old.
Place the pads in a place that is dry and has some light shade, and give the cut end some time to grow a callus. This process, which can take anywhere from two weeks to four weeks in warm, dry weather but more time in cool or humid conditions, protects the new plant from decaying at the base.
When the new skin has completely hardened, plant the pads at a depth of one inch in a mixture that is half soil and half sand. Your plant runs the risk of rotting if it is placed any deeper.
It does not need to be watered for the first month because the pad already contains sufficient moisture to keep itself alive.
To keep it standing while the roots grow over the following month or two, you can use pebbles or some other type of support. After a month, your plant should have developed sufficient roots to be able to stand on its own; however, you should keep supporting it even if it is still a bit unstable.
You can water it at this time as well, but be sure to follow the watering instructions that were presented earlier and allow it to become totally dry in between waterings.
Flowers and fruit will typically begin to form on fresh plants anywhere between the second and third pad that grows.