Cactus success!

[Elohi]

My propagation experiment is going well. Anything else I need to know to keep this thing growing well while still using pads for feeding?



Elohi(Earth)

 

[Tom]

Looking good. Now you just need enough pots to feed all your tortoises. My tortoises will eat a 5 gallon bucket filled with cut off pads about every third day all summer long, so I have A LOT of cactus plants.

 

[Flipper]

I just placed an order and bought some cactus pads. I plan to plant a couple of them. Did you use plain soil or cactus soil? Are you doing anything special for the cactuses?

They look very healthy! Great job!

 

[bouaboua]

Looking Good! ! ! Looking Good! ! !

 

[Elohi]

I just placed an order and bought some cactus pads. I plan to plant a couple of them. Did you use plain soil or cactus soil? Are you doing anything special for the cactuses?

They look very healthy! Great job!

Thank you!
I just used organic potting soil. I am planning to start some more in more porous/less nutrient dense soil to see if they grow at the same pace. I love a good experiment lol.


Elohi(Earth)

 

[Flipper]

Thank you!
I just used organic potting soil. I am planning to start some more in more porous/less nutrient dense soil to see if they grow at the same pace. I love a good experiment lol.


Elohi(Earth)

Maybe using the same soil but with a bit of sand mixed in for better drainage?! That's what I may do

 

[Elohi]

I just remembered I mixed some organic peat into the potting soil. I have the memory of a goldfish lol. :S


Elohi(Earth)

 

[Flipper]

I just remembered I mixed some organic peat into the potting soil. I have the memory of a goldfish lol. :S


Elohi(Earth)

I love goldfish! You must be wonderful

 

[littleginsu]

Looks great!! Do those hooky things eventually turn into the needles?

 

[Elohi]

Looks great!! Do those hooky things eventually turn into the needles?

This is a spineless variety so I think most of those fall off and in some places, new pads will sprout from where some of those finger things were.
I could be wrong though, this is my first spineless cactus adventure.


Elohi(Earth)

 

[dmmj]

Looks great, water infrequently. Once a week perhaps. Want to sell me a pad or two, so I can grow some?

 

[parrotlady]

They will fall off, make sure you protect it if it is going to freeze. They seem to be a little susceptible to frost. Also, I find the spineless variety needs more water than the regular opuntia. Of course I am located in Tucson where the humidity can be very low. I have about 4 varieties. If some one would like some later this summer I would be willing to share if you pay postage.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

That is fantastic! I planted some about one year ago and found that if you water them too much they will literally rot and decay. What i do is pick the new tender ones for a food source, however sorta strategically pick them in order to induce or encourage the plant to grow high and strong instead of growing wild and wide.

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

That Cactus looks great but if I may ? For the nice ladie that wants to add sand for drainage : if I may add stirfoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot it will drain but it will be lighter to move it around . For the nice ladie with the new cactus I would cut off a pad let dry at room temp. And in 24-48 hrs I would plant it . And this winter I would put it in the garage were its cool give it a shot glass of water a week and in the spring it will have a very pretty flower .


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[dmmj]

They will fall off, make sure you protect it if it is going to freeze. They seem to be a little susceptible to frost. Also, I find the spineless variety needs more water than the regular opuntia. Of course I am located in Tucson where the humidity can be very low. I have about 4 varieties. If some one would like some later this summer I would be willing to share if you pay postage.

Sounds like a deal, let me know when and how much? Spineless though right?

 

[Elohi]

That Cactus looks great but if I may ? For the nice ladie that wants to add sand for drainage : if I may add stirfoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot it will drain but it will be lighter to move it around . For the nice ladie with the new cactus I would cut off a pad let dry at room temp. And in 24-48 hrs I would plant it . And this winter I would put it in the garage were its cool give it a shot glass of water a week and in the spring it will have a very pretty flower .


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How big is their root system? Will I ever need to transplant them into bigger pots? I hope to have 4-6 pots that I feed from.


Elohi(Earth)

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

A side note on feeding cactus pads. As the pads mature in size, they build up oxalic acid which renders calcium unavailable to your tortoise. It's recommended to feed pads the size of your hand to help reduce this. Also at this size the spines tend to be soft and pliable increasing the edibility. Take the larger, mature pads and plant for a future pad baring plant.
And another fun one is those cactus are not found in Africa naturally occurring. The only naturally occurring would be aloe Vera which they love to munch as well.

 

[Elohi]

A side note on feeding cactus pads. As the pads mature in size, they build up oxalic acid which renders calcium unavailable to your tortoise. It's recommended to feed pads the size of your hand to help reduce this. Also at this size the spines tend to be soft and pliable increasing the edibility. Take the larger, mature pads and plant for a future pad baring plant.
And another fun one is those cactus are not found in Africa naturally occurring. The only naturally occurring would be aloe Vera which they love to munch as well.

Should I feed the pads with the green fingerlings or wait until they fall off? Or remove them? The pads are currently as long as my hand and still thin and young.

This one I will probably just let mature and then start feeding from the pads that these young pads produce.

Elohi(Earth)

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Heather,
Do you have the info. I provided you handy? I'll have to get back to you Monica. Chores.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Monica,
If the mature pads end up around 12"x6", I'd use them when they are say 4"x6" or so. I've no “word on the street" information for this, just the “beat in the heat". Seems they seek out the younger pads if given the chance.