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- Q.Prickly Pear Cactus Pads Buried Under Soil - We moved to a house that has a large eastern prickly pear cactus. It is located in a flower bed ...
- Q.How Do I Know What Variety I Have? Any Information Will Be Helpful. It Growing Like Crazy And Fell In Luv With This Cactus, Lol. - His name is Buddy!! Also, not sure if I'm over watering or under watering. Wondering why the pads I guess ...
- Q.My Prickly Pear Fruit Is Falling Off The Pads. Is Mid August And They Are About 2 Inches Long - I live in Deewey AZ. The plant looks really healthy. But now I don't have any fruit!!
- Q.Prickly Pear Cactus - Can I safely take a cutting from a prickly pear cactus and put it in another part of my yard? ...
- Q.Do Indian Fig Prickly Pears Self-generate And Spread Out In A Planted Area? - I live in Zone 4 and have noticed on my walks that someone has prickly pear with yellow blossoms planted ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
April 28, 2021Q.Prickly Pear Cactus Pads Buried Under Soil
We moved to a house that has a large eastern prickly pear cactus. It is located in a flower bed with soil and mulch. Much of it looks good but a good number pads are light brown and have bad spots on them. tried to clean it out because there are lots of leaves and debris within it. I am finding a lot of the main beaches are under a layer of dirt and have turned that same flaky light brown. Are these okay to be under dirt or do I need to remove them to ensure future healthy pads? I am new to this plant so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
April 29, 2021
Certified ExpertA.I would cut them away and clean out under the plant, just to give it a fresh area to grow in. It's okay to clip the leaves all the way back, but don't harm the stem/trunk of the plant.. This article may be helpful:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/search?q=prune%20prickly%20pear%20cactusWas this answer useful?00
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- Asked by
Theramb99 on
August 13, 2021
Albany, NYQ.How Do I Know What Variety I Have? Any Information Will Be Helpful. It Growing Like Crazy And Fell In Luv With This Cactus, Lol.
His name is Buddy!! Also, not sure if I'm over watering or under watering. Wondering why the pads I guess they are called are curving, as you can see in the pictures? I have had it 2-3 months, and all the new pads were not there. It is thriving like crazy, but worried about the pads curling? Live in upstate NY and have watered it 3 times I think and has been replanted to a larger pot 2 months ago. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you Albert.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
August 16, 2021
Certified ExpertA.This is normal. They can take all kinds of crazy shapes. It can indicate that the pH is less than ideal, but feeding with a cactus feed one or twice per year, at the least, will help keep things good in the soil.
Be very wary when watering. Potting up to a larger pot carries the risk of soil that remains wet for too long. Be sure that the soil dries out, thoroughly, between waterings, and ensure that the container has holes to allow all extra water to leave, freely.
Opuntia is a very large genus. Pinning down an exact cultivar will be next to impossible without sending it to a genealogy lab. Fortunately, almost all of them have the exact same care.
This collection of articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/prickly-pear
Was this answer useful?10 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 27, 2021Q.My Prickly Pear Fruit Is Falling Off The Pads. Is Mid August And They Are About 2 Inches Long
I live in Deewey AZ. The plant looks really healthy. But now I don't have any fruit!!
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
September 9, 2021
Certified ExpertA.I would take a soil sample. This is, usually, an indication that there is too much nitrogen in the soil. It causes nice pad growth, but blossoms and fruit to not swell and will fall off.
These articles will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-ph-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/prickly-pear/growing-prickly-pear.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Unbakedpegga on
October 6, 2021
37087Q.Prickly Pear Cactus
Can I safely take a cutting from a prickly pear cactus and put it in another part of my yard? Zone 7A
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
October 7, 2021
Certified ExpertA.Absolutely! They root so easily, that dropping a pad onto the ground where you want it to start will usually make a new plant there. The more surefire way to start one is to take a pad and set it on a table for a few days. Once it starts to callus at the broke end, it will start showing root primordia. At this time, you can pot it up, or plant it in ground.
This collection of articles will help you to care for the cactus:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/prickly-pear
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
katenieb on
December 20, 2021
Hastings, MN tt0eeQ.Do Indian Fig Prickly Pears Self-generate And Spread Out In A Planted Area?
I live in Zone 4 and have noticed on my walks that someone has prickly pear with yellow blossoms planted in their garden as a perrenial. I have purchased a purple prickly pear wedge and have rooted it. I want to try planting the Indian Fig variety because I think that is the same I have seen growing healthily here in our cold climate. My question is does a single rooted wedge self-generate and spread out in a planted are or do I need to buy multiple wedges/plants? Thank you
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
December 20, 2021
Certified ExpertA.It will, but slowly. The more you add, the faster it spreads!
These articles will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/prickly-pear
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