Opuntia fig - description and care
Content:
Among the many cacti that are grown at home, the most popular is the fig prickly pear. The homeland of the plant is South America, but more recently it took root on the coast of Crimea and has been growing there constantly since then.
What does the fig prickly pear look like, which family does it belong to?
Indian prickly pear is an exotic plant and belongs to the Cactus family. Often, a crop is grown as an edible plant and its fruits are eaten. The cactus itself is a dense prickly stems that bloom beautifully. After flowering, red fruits are formed on the thorns, the flesh of which is sweet and very juicy.
Fruiting of Indian prickly pear
Opuntia can be in the form of a bush with erect or creeping shoots. Sometimes the plant is even found in the form of a tree. Buds with thorns are located along the perimeter of the cactus. Fleshy and dense foliage quickly crumbles.
Cutaway of the fig prickly pear fruit
Common varieties
Opuntia has many varieties and types, but the most popular are:
- Berger - the plant exceeds a meter in height, its stems are angular, bright green. Yellow thorns are located throughout the stems.
- Gosselina - distinguished by large yellow inflorescences. The leaves have several shades: from green to blue with a silvery bloom.
- Small-haired - this cactus can be found in many homes, it is distinguished by many soft yellow needles around the perimeter of the plant.
Healing properties
Opuntia has a number of beneficial properties for the human body:
- relieves inflammation;
- lowers platelet activity;
- helps in the fight against excess weight, is used for weight loss;
- plant seed extract helps to reduce the aging process of the skin.
Briefly about the history of appearance
This cactus has been actively used by people for many years. Currently, prickly pear is animal feed, and dye is also made from it. In the 20th century, the cactus came to Australia, where it quickly spread across the continent. The cows especially liked the plant, but they began to die from the cactus bristles entering their intestines. For this reason, the farmers disliked the cactus and tried to defeat it with chemicals.
Features of caring for a plant at home
For the development and flowering of the plant, it is necessary to create optimal conditions.
Temperature
In the summer, the temperature for a cactus is not so important, it can adapt well. In winter, the thermometer mark should not rise above 6 degrees Celsius, otherwise the prickly pear will stretch out and become ugly.
Lighting
The prickly pear loves a lot of light, but the plant should not be exposed to direct sunlight. For active growth, a cactus requires light throughout the year.
Dense planting of the fig prickly pear
Watering
Water the plant carefully. If there is an excess of moisture in the soil, the root system will begin to rot. Watering is carried out as needed - when the topsoil has already dried out, you can start moistening.The water needs to be defended, and it is better that it is soft and slightly acidified. Lemon juice is used for these purposes.
Priming
The acidity of the soil should not exceed 6.5 pH, it should be well permeable and loose. A mixture of humus, turf and sand is perfect. Do not forget about drainage, as it is used expanded clay, pebbles or broken brick. Opuntia grows well in ready-made commercial soil mixture for cacti and succulents.
Top dressing
You can feed a cactus from spring to autumn, doing it according to the instructions. 1 application of special formulations for succulents per month will be enough. In winter, top dressing is strictly prohibited.
Features of care in winter, dormant period
If the cactus was planted in open ground, then for the winter period it must be covered with straw or needles. During the dormant period, the plant is somewhat deformed, but you should not worry. In the spring, it will again become quite attractive. In winter, no fertilizing is applied and no watering is carried out.
Blooming edible cactus
When and how it blooms
Opuntia blooms in early spring, and ends this period in early autumn. It is extremely difficult to achieve flowering of a cactus at home, or rather, impossible. The description of the plant indicates that it blooms in different colors: from small to large. You can count on the appearance of gorgeous flowers if in the summer there is an opportunity to take a pot of cactus into the garden or yard. After flowering, the plant produces juicy, sweet fruits that taste somewhat like figs.
How the fig prickly pear reproduces
There are only two ways of propagation of prickly pear, and vegetative is most often used.
Germinating seeds
The seed method of reproduction is perhaps the most laborious. Before sowing, prickly pear seeds should be rubbed with sandpaper or a nail file. After that, the material is filled with water for several hours. The soil for planting should consist of perlite, universal soil and charcoal. The seeds are planted in the soil, pressing a little into it. The plantings must be moistened with a weak manganese solution and covered with glass or film. Ventilate containers in the morning and evening. It is important that the soil is not dry or very wet.
Rooting cuttings
The vegetative way of propagation of cacti is more acceptable. The stalk can be removed at any time, but it is best to plant it in the spring or summer, when the plant is at its maximum development. The segment is cut off and left to dry for several days. After that, the cuttings are deepened by a third into a mixture of ready-made soil for cacti and sand. Planting needs to be watered, but rooting can occur after a few weeks or even months.
There is another way of rooting. On one side of the segment, thorns are removed and it is this side that is deepened into the ground. Next, you should water the soil around the cutting. Roots will form throughout its entire area. When the beginning of cactus growth is noticeable, you can reduce watering and let the soil dry out for several days.
Transfer
Opuntia has extremely delicate roots, so it is better not to transplant once again. This should be done only if its pot is already small for the cactus. The culture is grown in clay or terracotta pots. Such material will prevent moisture from stagnating in the container, and the roots will not be damaged.
Possible growing problems and diseases
Any problems that arise during the cultivation of prickly pear are in one way or another associated with improper care of it. The main problems and their solutions:
- If the shoots have shriveled and become lethargic, then the plant clearly lacks moisture, it is worth revising its watering regime.
- The formation of dry light spots on the segment indicates high air humidity or sudden temperature changes.
- The development of root rot occurs due to excess moisture and nitrogen in the soil. In this case, the formation of light spots can be seen on the shoots, which will soon darken.
- If small light spots are visible on the segments, this indicates the development of white fungal mildew. The disease occurs due to the content of the plant in conditions of high humidity, and treatment must be carried out with fungicides.
Planting prickly pear, first shoots
Pests
Pests often attack prickly pears. If a root nematode does this, then the plant may soon die. The affected areas of the cactus must be removed, the roots must be dipped in boiling water for several minutes and the plant must be sprayed with a solution of charcoal. After that, the cactus can be planted in a new sterile soil.
Signs and superstitions
It is believed that any cactus is capable of absorbing harmful electromagnetic waves that come from electrical appliances. Opuntia protects the house and all its inhabitants from negativity. There is also a version that the cactus survives from the home of all men, so in the old days such a plant was not grown in a house with young girls.
Wild growth of prickly pear
Few novice flower growers know what kind of plant it is - fig prickly pear. With proper care, the cactus will delight with its decorative effect for many years.
