Opuntia cactus: examples of plant care and propagation

Opuntia is a cactus that adorns the windowsills of many flower growers. It is a tropical plant that grows in arid regions. It forms interesting forms and ramifications, in the warm season it pleases with the beauty of its flowering. The homeland of prickly pear is South America. In their natural environment, the bushes reach large sizes, grow in different directions. This family of Cactus combines many varieties and varieties.

Description of prickly pear

Opuntia is a perennial cactus. This family includes about 300 species and is the largest. Each individual species has its own distinctive features. The color varies from light green to dark green, and bluish, smoky and gray cacti are also found. The size of the needles is also different, they are long and wide-set, they are, on the contrary, small and thick.

Cactus with red flowers

The shape of the leaves and their arrangement are combined into one family. They are dense, fleshy, and contain a large amount of liquid. Due to this, moisture is easily transferred. They are round, but in different sizes. The general appearance of the plant is formed in different ways, as the foliage attaches to each other and grows in different directions.

The root system is not well developed. The roots are small, attached to the upper layers of the soil. Cactus prefers sandy or sandy loam soil.

Currently, the plant can be found in its natural environment in South America, Africa, India, Mexico, Canada, Asia. People also tried to grow it in pots. This experiment turned out to be successful. Many growers keep prickly pears on their windowsill.

Types of prickly pears

Opuntia species are diverse, there are more than 300 of them. Many varieties are grown at home.

Opuntia fig

The fig prickly pear has its own peculiarity. The appearance of the plant is practically no different from others. The leaves are round, different sizes, green. After flowering, in the middle of autumn, fruits are formed at the ends. Outwardly, they resemble figs, which is where the name comes from. After ripening, a juicy red pulp forms inside. What is it fig prickly pear? In countries where it grows in large numbers, it is a delicacy. Various dishes are prepared from it. Also, these berries are famous for their nutritional value and beneficial properties.

Indian prickly pear, or fig, blooms from early spring to autumn. Bright orange flowers with elongated pointed petals are forming. There are fine light hairs in the center.

Cactus fruit

Prickly pear

In its natural environment, it grows in the valleys of Mexico at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level. The sizes of the cactus are quite large. It all depends on the growing conditions. The more free area, the larger the plant. The leaves are flat, fleshy, large, dark green in color. Small dots with a large number of small needles are located on them. It is rather difficult to consider them. The bundles are white. Flowering occurs in a natural environment, it is difficult to achieve it at home. The flowers of the prickly pear, or Microdasis, are large, beige, with stamens in the center.

Opuntia is cylindrical

Cylindropuntia cactus grows in the tropics and subtropics. The plant reaches a height of up to 2 m. Separate processes of the cylindrical prickly pear have an elongated shape. Covered with small green glochidia. These are kind of green leaves. The maximum length is 5 cm. Sometimes long sharp single spines form instead of them. At home, flowering is very rare. In their natural environment, large red flowers bloom.

Garden prickly pear

Garden prickly pear, or frost-resistant prickly pear, has several varieties. This cactus is famous for the fact that it can be grown outdoors, without shelter. It takes root well in the middle lane, as it is winter-hardy. Flowering pleases the entire summer season. Depending on the variety, it blooms with yellow or red flowers.

Potted cactus

Other

The most popular varieties of cactus are described above. In addition to them, there are other varieties:

• Opuntia Subulata. The succulent plant has an oblong stem. On the surface there are yellow needle-shaped spines, white tubercles. Flowering occurs once a year, lasts from spring to autumn. Forms bright red flowers.
• Berger's prickly pear. The plant grows up to 1 m in height. The leaves are round, fleshy, dark green in color. They have yellow needles. It blooms with bright orange flowers with dense stamens inside.
• Opuntia Monacanth. The plant has an unusual shape. Green leaves with brown needles extend from the stem. Each sheet has a unique shape. It does not bloom in indoor conditions.
• Opuntia is variegated. Medium-sized cactus. The leaves are green, rounded, with small outgrowths. From them branches off with red flowers. Long needles are located on the surface of the leaves.
• Brazilian prickly pear. It is large in size, grows up to 1 m. There is a central stem, from which leaves, round, green. The surface is covered with needles, a small white bloom is visible on the stem.

The variety of species has no boundaries. There are succulents that look like an ordinary cactus. Many of them are thornless, without needles, others, on the contrary, are thorny, covered with needles of different sizes.

Caring for prickly pear at home

The tropical prickly pear cactus needs home care. For flowering, it is necessary to observe all the features of caring for a cactus. Monitor watering, feeding and lighting, and change the soil if necessary.

Temperature and humidity

Since the plant is tropical, it tolerates heat well. The optimum temperature is + 25-30 ° С. During the summer, it is better to keep the pot outside the house, in the fresh air. If this is not possible, then the room is regularly ventilated.

Before wintering, the temperature of the content is reduced to 5 ° C. If you make it at least a degree higher, then the cactus will not be able to go into a dormant state.

The humidity of the room does not play a big role. A succulent plant will be able to tolerate both dry air and humid air. Therefore, there is no need to spray.

Opuntia in the ground

Lighting

It is advisable to place the plant in a well-lit area. The succulent is tropical, therefore it requires a lot of sunlight. If daylight hours are not enough, then the cactus is illuminated with a special lamp for up to 12 hours a day.

Soil and fertilizing

Opuntia has its own special requirements for the choice of soil. Regular store-bought cactus soil is not suitable. It stops growing. The mixture must be prepared by yourself. To do this, take:

• sod land;
• leaf substrate;
• dry clay;
• sand;
• charcoal.

All components are mixed in equal proportions. Then the mixture is sprinkled on a baking sheet in an even layer and calcined in the oven at 100 ° C.This is necessary to destroy harmful bacteria and fungi that may be in the ground or sand. Thus, they prevent the infection of the cactus with diseases.

You can feed prickly pear only with mineral fertilizers for succulents and cacti. It is prohibited to use organic fertilizers. The procedure is carried out every 2 weeks during the growing season. During rest, the succulent is not fed, this is not necessary.

Watering

Opuntia accumulates a large amount of liquid in the leaves and stems. Water the cactus as the soil dries up. Since it is kept in the heat, irrigation is often done. The larger the plant, the more water it will consume.

Cactus with pink flowers

Blooming prickly pear cactus

Opuntia rarely begins to bloom at home. To get flowers, you need to create the most suitable conditions for this. It is almost impossible to do this in an apartment. However, sometimes the cactus begins to bud. If this happens, then you need to know a few rules:

• do not move the pot to another place;
• do not turn the plant over as a flower towards the sun;
• continue to water as usual;
• do not transplant the plant;
• do not feed.

If you disturb the dormancy of a cactus, then it will quickly throw off the buds, in their place are formed green shoots-children, which can be used for reproduction.

Opuntia yellow

Reproduction methods

Propagation of prickly pears is quite simple. This can be done in two ways: scoops or seeds.

Vegetative

In early spring or late autumn, several shoots are selected. It is desirable that they are large or medium in size and free from damage. Carefully cut the cuttings with scissors, then apply the base to the ground. A glass cover is put on top and rooting is expected. At this time, several mandatory procedures are carried out:

• remove the hood for airing every day for 30 minutes;
• warming up the soil at the bottom of the pot to stimulate root growth;
• water the ground as it dries up;
• maintain a temperature of 20 ° C for this time;
• after rooting, they are transplanted to a new place.

Seeds

Getting hold of succulent seeds is tricky. For this, the plant must bloom, then give fruits with grains. The procedure for germinating a seed is quite complicated, but interesting. It takes place in several stages:

• the seeds are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes;
• dried;
• each seed is processed with a file or sandpaper;
• drainage from small pebbles or expanded clay is laid on the bottom of the pot;
• fill up a layer of soil;
• place seeds on top;
• fall asleep with earth;
• cover with transparent film;
• leave at a temperature of 20 ° C;
• ventilate daily;
• after receiving the sprouts, they are seated in different containers.

What is this prickly pear? Many flower growers ask about this, not realizing that it has been growing on their windowsill for several years. It can often be found at home among cactus lovers. This class includes over 300 species. They are all united by the rounded shape of the leaf, the bewitching flowering. The cactus has frost-resistant species, which allows it to be used in landscape design and planted in open ground.