Is this optunia alright?

[josh shultis]

Just purchased a prickly pear off a gentleman on kijji an just wondering if it looks healthy an also the pot is small for how big it is, the pot is only about 5" tall, is it to big to repot? Thanks!

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings, you could start a whole bunch of new plants from this monster. Each one of those pads has the potential to become a nice new plant. Cactus like this are very easy to start new. Lots of info out there how to do it.

 

[josh shultis]

Thanks ya I bought like 10 smaller ones the other week so I kind of wanted to keep this monster together, I'm just wondering if it's to big to repot? An is the brown normal around the bottom or is it unhealthy. The only bad thing about this one is the gentleman said it wasn't the winter hardy kind

 

[Yvonne G]

It would benefit from a bigger pot. I'll bet it's root bound.

 

[littleginsu]

Yes. Bigger pot. Cactus roots like to spread out in order to catch as much rain as possible.

 

[Blakem]

I recently read from a forum member to pull off the new pads when they get the size of your hand. I believe he said that the bigger ones are higher in oxilates. Good luck!


———-------------------------
(This is my signature)
Here's some great plant identification websites I use.

http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/diet.htm#plantlist

http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm

http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

This is the spineless one for the torts to eat .


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[Star-of-India]

The browning ones appear to be just very mature pads. They slowly become very wooden/hardened over time. Best to cut off the spines and glochids prior to feeding the pads to torts, but on the wild no one is doing that for torts.

 

[Star-of-India]

Go on eBay and you'll find winter hardy opuntias being offered.

 

[Abdulla6169]

If I were you I'd:
1-Cut off the browned ones from the bottom.
2- use the green tops for new cactus
3- check if there are any fully green cactus plants there, if there is I'd repot them.
This is personal preference though, if the plant grows perfectly you can just repot I'm just a perfectionist.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Yes, but I would cut off those spines. That could hurt

 

[josh shultis]

Go on eBay and you'll find winter hardy opuntias being offered.

Thanks everyone! I have a couple winter hardy ones they are still small though just a few pads on each plant.

 

[josh shultis]

The pads seem to be quite a bit bigger on the winter hardy species

 

[highwaycatcher]

Should the glochids be removed? I've read conflicting information....

 

[josh shultis]

Apparently they don't "have" to be because they arnt removed in the wild but I would and do to be safe!

 

[highwaycatcher]

Ok here come the splinters! The things we do for our pets!

 

[josh shultis]

Ok here come the splinters! The things we do for our pets!

Apparently you can burn them off, although I Haven't tryed that yet I'm
Going to next time