The exotic prickly pear cactus are easy-care plants that only make low demands. Even propagating the plant is easy. You have 2 options.
Cacti have one big advantage: they are easy to care for, undemanding and also look interesting. In addition, they only need a little water. A very popular cactus is e.g. the prickly pear. This is a shrub-like cactus that consists of many large leaf-shaped shoots that can grow to a good 50 cm long and 25 cm wide. For that reason alone, the prickly pear cactus looks very interesting. But what makes it so special is its fruits. The so-called prickly pears.
First, large flowers form around the outer shoot tips. The fruits then develop from these, the colors of which vary from yellow to orange to red. Under the prickly skin is the delicious pulp, which tastes like a mixture of pear and melon.
If you can't get enough of these fruits or the plant itself, you can multiply them. You have two options for this. On the one hand you can multiply the prickly pear cactus with cuttings and on the other hand with seeds.
How to propagate your prickly pear cactus
Option 1 - propagate prickly pear cactus by cuttings:
❶ Slightly carve a so-called cactus ear and carefully break it off. The freshly cut or broken area must then dry well. To do this, place the cactus segment in a warm and bright place for two to three days.
❷ Then stick the cactus ear into slightly moistened cactus soil. Please do not go further than two centimeters, otherwise mold or rot may occur. To keep the segment from falling over, simply stabilize it with a couple of sticks.
❸ Then you have to put the little cactus in a warm place. A temperature of around 20 degrees is optimal. If the cactus is stuck firmly in the ground after a few weeks, it has already formed roots. You can then remove the supports.
By the way:
Unfortunately, cacti are not winter-proof, which means that you can leave them outside in the summer but have to bring them back inside in the winter. Here are moreTips for caring for cacti.
Option 2 - propagate prickly pear cactus from seeds:
❶ If you want to propagate a prickly pear from seeds, you first need a ripe prickly pear. You have to cut them open and then scoop out the seeds from inside.
❷ Then you have to free the seeds from the pulp. The best way to do this is to place them in a colander, run some water over them, and then rub them with a dish brush.
❸ Now place the seeds on some cactus or potting soil and cover them lightly with the soil. Then slightly moisten the soil and put a plastic bag over the growing pots to increase the humidity.
❹ Then place the pots in a bright and warm place (20 degrees) and air the pots regularly. It is also important that you keep the substrate evenly moist.