cactus > OPUNTIA
IN THIS GUIDE
OPUNTIA GUIDES
A prickly pear cactus can be an interesting houseplant to grow , and can also be a drought - tolerant container plant for a patio over the summertime calendar month .
There are many different prickly pear cacti which can be grown as houseplants or in a greenhouse under chalk here in the UK .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureSheltered ( Indoors during winter )
HeightVaries
SpreadVaries
Bloom TimeUsually wo n’t bloom in UK
PreferredLoam , guts
MoistureWell - drained
pHAny
Prickly pear cacti are plants in the Opuntia genus .
According to Kew records , there are 136 confirmed species within this genus , and a number of these can be grown as houseplants in the UK.1Opuntia . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . call back March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30002080-2#children
Opuntia can number in a wide range of a function of unlike forms and size – some originate no bigger than around 30 cm in height , while others can eventually tower to over 5 m.
They usually have flatten out pad - like stem sections with spines and barbs , and ( when grown in optimum stipulation ) bring forth funnel - shaped flowers in various gloss ( typically pink , red or yellowed ) followed by fleshy , spiny and sometimes edible fruit .
Common Varieties
Let ’s take a spirit at three of the Prickly Pear Cactus varieties most normally grown as houseplants here in the UK :
Botanical Name : Opuntia microdasys
This is the most commonly originate Opuntia here in the British Isles .
This small-scale Opuntia develop to just 30 - 45 cm improbable , and has oval pads with tuft of small , favorable spines .
pocket-size yellow efflorescence can also form though these come out only very rarely .
It has gained the RHS Award of Garden Merit.2AGM Ornamental Plants . ( 2021 , July ) . Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf
Botanical Name : Opuntia genus Ficus - indica
This is the most common of the Opuntias cultivated for edible fruit .
It is grown for these fruits , and also for the prickly pads which are eaten as a veg known as ‘ nopales ’ – which is ordinarily rust as an component in Mexican recipes.3MasterClass . ( 2022 , July 18).How to Cook Nopal : Mexican Ensalada de Nopales Recipe . Retrieved March 21 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.masterclass.com/articles/nopales-salad-recipe
Unfortunately , the fruits are only produced when the growing condition are absolutely perfect , and so you may not see them when spring up the plant as a houseplant here in the UK .
This veg is said to have a texture and nip which resembles gullible beans .
Botanical Name : Opuntia polyacantha
O. polyacanthais another choice that can be grown indoors or in a greenhouse , and which can be place outside over the summer month .
This is a spreading cactus which can ultimately grow over 2 metre in breadth and to a height of around 40 cm .
The flatten out pads are cover with areoles which have hairs and spines protruding from them .
In summertime the industrial plant will often yield magenta flowers which bloom on the remainder of the flavourless pads .
“ When buy cacti , often you will see cacti for cut-rate sale with flower on , ” shares Dan Ori , Horticultural Consultant .
“ Unfortunately , they are seldom real and have been glued on , so it is worth checking the blossom against pictures of what they should depend like as the fake flowers normally look different . ”
Why Grow Opuntia?
Opuntias make interesting houseplants and conversation pieces .
They are relatively easy to care for indoors , and can often be placed outside over the summertime month .
Like other cactus , they do not have high water needs , and are relatively low maintenance .
Grow an edible type and you might also be able to achieve comestible yields from your interesting houseplant too .
How To Grow Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly pear cactus will usually be grown as houseplants or glasshouse plants here in the UK .
Though they are comparatively easy to handle for , providing the right weather where they are mature is important for the best results .
Prickly pear cacti must be develop in an environment in which temperature do not fall below 10 ° C .
Ideally , the plant should receive temperature in summer of at least 18 ° carbon .
Remember , these are desert plants , which enjoy warmth .
While you could place these cacti out-of-doors in a cheery and sheltered spot in summer , you will certainly need to move them indoors or undercover for the wintertime months ; be indisputable to make this move in other autumn .
If turn indoors year - rotund , a prickly pear cactus should be moved to a coolheaded daub ( 10 - 13 ° C ) in the winter to advance flowering .
You should keep your briary pear cactus away from verbatim rut source such as radiator or range , and also away from draughts and fan which induce temperature fluctuations .
Prickly pear cacti should be mature in a smart spot that gets as much light source as possible .
However , you should screen it from strong , unmediated sunlight in the summer .
A south - lining or west - confront windowsill can be ideal , and the plants should get 4 - 6 hours of direct sunshine in the summertime months .
A heated glasshouse with respectable , all - pear-shaped light can also work well .
When potting up a burred pear cactus , pick out a container which is the same size of it as , or only very slightly bigger than , the rootball .
check that that the pot allows for detached - drain and has a hole or hole at the base .
It is a good idea to use a terracotta crapper for cacti and succulents as these will not retain wet as much as plastic heap .
Like other desert cacti , it is of import to employ a very free - debilitate growing medium .
you could use a multipurpose compost with contribute John Innes with added extra grit .
Better yet , you may use a potting premix that has been specifically contrive for cactus and succulent .
Top dress the container with a stratum of gravel , pebble or a cosmetic cover .
Prickly Pear Cactus Care
While prickly pears are cacti and obviously , as desert plants , can grapple with drought and ironical condition , do not make the error of consider that they do not require to be watered at all .
Though these plants can survive long flow without much piddle , by store the pee in their stems , they will grow well and are more likely to flower ( and fruit ) when they are cater with adequate water supplies .
Between April and September , you should water pretty whenever the growing medium is dry .
However , you should limit lachrymation during the quiescence stop , when the flora is not growing during fall and winter .
tearing just once a calendar month or so should be sufficient during this time .
It is very important to make indisputable that when you water , the piss drains through freely .
The cactus should never be allowed to sit with its solution in water – and make certain you do not leave water supply sitting below the home of the pot .
For good results , you should feed your burry pear cactus with a specialist cactus plant food once every two months from leap through to former autumn .
But do not course your plants over the fall and winter month .
Once you have perfected the care of your splenetic pear cactus , it is relatively soft for you to spread your existing flora and expand your houseplant appeal .
you may propagate Opuntia by come , but by far the easiest agency to propagate them is by taking cuttings .
Take care when manage your plants as of course the spines and prickles can do quite a quite a little of legal injury to your workforce if you do not .
It is best to wear glove and also to practice tweezers or some tongs when take on cuttings .
“ I expend kitchen pair of tongs with silicone polymer oddment to plow all my cacti as they a strong enough to manipulate the plant but piano enough to concentrate the chance of equipment casualty , ” shares Dan .
To take cuttings from a prickly pear tree cactus :
Keep an optic on the carving and water whenever the compost feel dry , and your fresh cactus works should have rooted within around 4 weeks .
Troubleshooting Problems
Many of the result you see with your prickly pear cactus as you manage for it are likely to be related to the weather in which you are grow it , or problems with lacrimation .
You may also see scale of measurement insect or mealybug , but you should be able to cautiously pass over these away with water , or an constituent insecticide if there is a larger plague .
Just take care around the plant asthe small spines can be spiky .
