Erect Prickly Pear

Erect Prickly Pear Care

Opuntia Stricta

What is the plant

O. stricta is an erect to spreading, evergreen perennial cactus with branched stems divided into flattened, fleshy, spiny, broadly ovate, blue-green segments. Bright yellow flowers in summer are followed by spherical, reddish-purple fruit.Native to Central America, Mexico, Northern South America, Southeastern United States, Southwestern United States

It can be invasive everywhere except in North America.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

min 4°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Allow the soil to dry slightly before watering again.
Pruning
Houseplants should typically be pruned at the beginning of the growing season, which is late winter or early spring for many varieties.
Fertilizer
When it comes to fertilizers, you want to avoid over-fertilizing (just like an overdose of vitamins isn't great for us, either). Less is more, so it’s important to follow what the package says for application amounts.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
If your plant is not getting enough light, the most common sign is the yellowing and dropping of leaves, stunted leaf growth, elongated stems, and a dull-green color. If your plant is getting too much light, then its leaves will have singed tips, burned patches, or will be falling off (yikes!).
Soil
Requires a well-drained, loose mixture of potting soil.
Temperature
Prickly pear cactus is a tropical or subtropical plant, so it loves the warm exposure. However, it can withstand temperatures down to 14 F (-10 C), but in areas, with harsh winters it is best to plant it in a sheltered spot, near a wall or tall tree to protect it from cold drafts and fluctuation in temperature. If you’re living in a cooler climate, growing prickly pear cactus in a container is the better option for you as it can only be grown on the ground where winter temperature remains above 14 F (- 10 C).

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Container
Here’s a handy guideline: increase pot size by 2.5-5 cm (1 to 2 inches) in diameter for plants that are growing in pots 25.4 cm (10 inches) in diameter or less. For larger plants, those growing in pots greater than 10 inches in diameter, increase the pot size by 5 or 7.62 cm (2 or 3 inches) in diameter.
Popularity
920 people already have this plant 124 people have added this plant to their wishlists