Would you like to grow a prickly pear cactus from seed? That's not difficult at all. All you need to get started is a prickly pear and a little patience.
The prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) originally comes from South America and was cultivated there thousands of years ago. It then made its way to Europe for the first time in the 16th century. Here his popularity spread very quickly. Among other things, because the prickly pear cactus can easily be multiplied by yourself. For example about seeds. All you need is a prickly pear and some patience.
How to grow a prickly pear cactus from seed
Step 1: Collect seeds
To get Prickly Pear Seeds you need to get a Prickly Pear from the supermarket or harvest a fruit from the garden (hints on how to do this here). If you can't find any fruit in the supermarket, you can also buy prickly pear seeds in a garden store or order a sachet online:
If you have been able to get hold of a fruit, then remove the seeds from the pulp and wash them thoroughly under running water. Pay close attention to the small spikes, some of which can still be found on the fruit. If the pulp still sticks after this, remove it with a brush.
By the way: A very tasty fruit salad can be prepared from the pulp of the prickly pear.
Step 2: Prepare seeds
Place the seeds on a piece of kitchen roll or toilet paper and let them dry completely over the course of a few days. With cactus seeds from the bag, the first steps are of course unnecessary.
Place the dry seeds in a container of water and let them swell.
» Tip: Take more seeds than you want to grow prickly pear cactus. This gives you the opportunity to select the most beautiful specimens later.
Step 3: Sow seeds
Then scatter the swollen seeds loosely in a bowl filled with cactus soil. Do not bury the seeds, however, because the prickly pear cactus needs light to germinate. Just moisten the seeds slightly. You can use a spray bottle as an aid:
Put the bowl with the seedsto a warm place. A temperature of 20 to 25°C is ideal. Also, keep the seeds evenly moist. With a bit of luck, you will then discover the first cotyledons after a few weeks. However, it can also be the case that the seeds take much longer, sometimes several months, before they germinate. Don't lose patience. As long as the seeds don't rot, they are he althy and viable.
Step 4: separate germinated seeds
Now carefully lift the sprouted seeds out of the shell with a spoon and place them in individual pots with cactus soil. Choose a sunny location for your mini prickly pear cactus.
Alternative: cultivation from cactus ear
If you already own a prickly pear cactus, you have the option of propagating the plant vegetatively in addition to growing it from seeds. That's easy. All you have to do is cut off an "ear" of the prickly pear cactus and stick it deep enough into a pot of cactus soil so that it doesn't fall over. Then pour some water into the pot. The first roots form after a short time.