Hi got these prickly pear
- Thread starter Barrysulcata
- Start date
Replanting works best with older more mature pads.
Simply cut off a pad at the base and lay it flat somewhere with good ventilation for a week or two while the freshly cut portion "scars" over. Next stick the upright pad about 1/3 to 1/2 into some DRY sandy soil and leave it alone in a hot sunny location for a month. After a month water it well and let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. In the summer, I have to water once or twice a week. Highs are near 37 C everyday, humidity is very low, and we get zero rain in summer. In winter I don't water them at all. The main mistake people make is watering too much and too often, or not having them in a sunny enough location.
Simply cut off a pad at the base and lay it flat somewhere with good ventilation for a week or two while the freshly cut portion "scars" over. Next stick the upright pad about 1/3 to 1/2 into some DRY sandy soil and leave it alone in a hot sunny location for a month. After a month water it well and let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. In the summer, I have to water once or twice a week. Highs are near 37 C everyday, humidity is very low, and we get zero rain in summer. In winter I don't water them at all. The main mistake people make is watering too much and too often, or not having them in a sunny enough location.
Barrysulcata
Active Member
Hi tom
Thanks for replys
If you look at top there's new young pads is this do the same way as you said
What about big bulbs at top can Barry eat these or do I leave them on ?
Thanks for replys
If you look at top there's new young pads is this do the same way as you said
What about big bulbs at top can Barry eat these or do I leave them on ?
The tortoises here are fed pads and fruit with no ill effects.
Small torts may struggle with varieties with too many or too large seeds in the fruit, though.
Small torts may struggle with varieties with too many or too large seeds in the fruit, though.
Barrysulcata
Active Member
I see ur saying cut off older mature pad thanks
What about large fruits ( I take it they are fruits ) ?
What about large fruits ( I take it they are fruits ) ?
It looks like you have two parallel pads in the soil in the pot. I'd try to separate each of those into its own much bigger pot. Then you can cut the big pad that is growing up and to the left and start a third pot with it. Feed out the little pad growing off of that upper pad.
You can feed out the fruits when they are ripe.
You can feed out the fruits when they are ripe.
Barrysulcata
Active Member
Tidgys dad
I cut one of the fruits in half and very fine seeds
I cut one of the fruits in half and very fine seeds
Barrysulcata
Active Member
Hi tom
Thanks for your help there is 3 pads per pot so ur saying just have one pad per pot
Sorry for sounding dum but won't to get this right
Thanks for your help there is 3 pads per pot so ur saying just have one pad per pot
Sorry for sounding dum but won't to get this right
Barrysulcata
Active Member
If these are 3 separate pads in pot can I just separate and repot
What should my soil consist of
Thanks for ur patients
What should my soil consist of
Thanks for ur patients
Different varieties have different quantities and sizes of seeds.
Yours sounds good.
One pad per pot. Larger pots will allow more room for root growth.
Over here they make special cactus soils. If you don't have that over there, just add about 25% sand to some regular potting soil. This part is not all that critical.
Barrysulcata
Active Member
So if the pads are not joined in pot I can just repot
If the roots are intertwined, you can just pull them apart. These plants are very resilient. You could literally cut a pad in half, drop the cut halves flat on the ground and they would take root and start growing new pads.
Barrysulcata
Active Member
I'd just like to say a big thankyou to you both great guys
Barrysulcata
Active Member
How quickly does they grow
Would I be best to leave these in window sill
Would I be best to leave these in window sill
Speed of growth is highly variable. SOme just sit there and don't seem to do much for a while and others sprout like a weed.
They need as much sun as you can get them. Even if you need to move from one window sill in the morning to another in the afternoon. Best if they can be outside in the middle of a yard with no shade at all. Imagine if the temperature outside was 40C and you had a flat open areas with no trees or buildings nearby and this pad was baking in the scorching sun all day. That would be perfect. You'd have to water more often in that case though...
Barrysulcata
Active Member
Hi tom
I don't think our weather is good enough to go out side lol
I don't think our weather is good enough to go out side lol
Here they seem to grow very fast.
I don't keep them indoors, they like as much sun as possible, they can survive happily in 45 degree heat all day (centigrade).
I don't keep them indoors, they like as much sun as possible, they can survive happily in 45 degree heat all day (centigrade).
You have sunny days sometimes don't you? Take advantage of those days when you can.
