This is how the prickly pear grows
Most of the prickly pear cacti that are commercially available as ornamental plants belong to the species Opuntia ficus-indica. This develops regular ramifications, which are also known as ears because of their shape. They are thickened shoots in which the plant stores water. They have numerous fine spines and can appear obovate, broad or oblong. In Central America and Mexico, people consume young shoots as a vegetable known as nopales or nopalitos. Here, the plant cuttings are harvested, peeled and processed.
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Are cuts necessary?
These cacti do not require a topiary, because the regular removal of shoots would cause the opuntia to lose its bizarre shape. Since the flowers sprout on the annual parts of the plant, pruning measures would additionally limit the flowering potential. If your prickly pear shows illnesses or deficiency symptoms in the form of discoloration, cut off the affected parts of the plant with a sharp knife.
Multiply
If a cactus ear breaks off, you have ideal material for propagating cuttings. You can also selectively cut off a few shoots from strong and well-ingrown specimens with clean scissors and tighten them. The rooting works without any problems with the right care.
How to proceed:
- Let the interface dry for about 14 days
- Halve oversized specimens
- Partial plants with the cut surface in Cactus soil to press
- stabilize with rods
Tips
Wear sturdy gloves when caring for the plant, because the fine bristles anchor themselves with barbs in the skin and are therefore difficult to remove. Some hot wax on the spot will help pull the spines out with tweezers.
care
Pour the substrate with small amounts of water to stimulate root formation. Waterlogging should not occur, as this poses a risk of mold. After two to three months, you can carefully pull the plant to see whether it has grown. If it is stuck, it has developed roots.
Planting
Opuntia grow in warm and dry areas. They tolerate heat and long periods of drought. Not every species survives the sub-zero temperatures of the Central European winter. Winter hardy varieties are allowed to wander into the garden, where they linger all year round. Even if they appear dry and lifeless during the winter months, they will grow with renewed energy in the coming spring. It is important that you fill the bed with fine gravel. This substrate ensures dry conditions and improves water drainage.
Watering and fertilizing
During the spring, opuntia need regular but careful watering. Occasional watering is sufficient in summer as soon as the root ball has dried. At the beginning of the growing season, the cacti are grateful for fertilization.