Plant prickly pear cactus - this is how it thrives

Prickly pear cactus originally comes from South America. Note a few important things when planting, they also thrive here with us.

In and of itself, the prickly pear (Opuntia) is easy to care for and delights plant lovers with decorative flowers and edible fruits that taste like a mixture of melon and pear. However, they not only taste good, the high-fiber fruits also strengthen and promote digestion. That alone is reason enough to plant a prickly pear cactus.

In order for it to feel comfortable and grow well in our colder latitudes, however, a few precautions are needed. For example, you should not plant the prickly pear cactus directly outdoors, as you have to protect it from frost in winter. A large clay bucket is therefore recommended. It also needs a sheltered, warm and sunny location. This is the only way for the cactus to thrive and bear lots of figs.

How to properly plant a prickly pear cactus

Spring is the best time to put the plant in a clay pot. At this time of year you can also repot opuntias without any problems if the plants no longer have space in the previous container. In order for them to grow well, however, they need a specially mixed soil. The perfect Opuntia potting mix consists of these ingredients:

part perlite or sand
two parts compost
low peat

Perlite is a volcanic rock that loosens the potting soil and improves air permeability. If you want to use sand instead, it must not be calcareous. You can also incorporate stones if the pot is big enough. The plant pot must also have a drainage hole that you cover with a potsherd. Drainage made of pebbles or clay granules (expanded clay) is also beneficial.

Fill the mixed substrate in a suitable pot and insert the prickly pear cactus. It is best to wear gloves when doing this so that you do not injure yourself on the spikes. Then water the freshly planted or repotted plant generously and place the pot in a sheltered and sunny place.

The prickly pear cactus tolerates this kind of weather

In the frost-free periodyou can safely leave the prickly pear cactus outdoors. However, it cannot withstand heavy rainfall. In general, the plant prefers dry air, which is why a well-ventilated greenhouse or conservatory is an excellent location. Small specimens also feel at home on the windowsill in the living room.

Grow prickly pear cactus yourself

You can also grow and multiply Opuntias yourself. There are two ways to do this:

» Option 1:

You can propagate the prickly pear cactus e.g. by seeds. To do this, free the seeds of the fruit from the pulp and place them in cactus soil or peat. Always keep the soil moist afterwards.

» Option 2:

In the second variant you use a so-called "cactus ear" as a cutting. The prickly pear cactus regularly develops these ears as it grows on its thick, fleshy leaves. Cut such an ear at the growth point and then carefully break it off. Then allow the breakage to dry thoroughly before planting the cutting.