Prickly Pears

Family

Opuntia

Native

 Uruguay

Description

Opuntia canterae is a fast growing more or less erect, much-branched shrubby succulent plant and has short thick cladodes. The flower is a brilliant deep orange to yellow and appears from late spring throughout summer. The fruit is club-shaped and purple-red when ripe. The joints will occasionally exhibit white straight spines up to 3-4 cm long.

Environment

Demands full light growing for most of the year, except during the winter cycle. For the plant's health, light should be reduced to partial sun during this time.

Opuntia is a desert species . Water the plant when the top one inch of soil is dry. Allow the water to drain out of the pot and remove any excess from the saucer. During fall and winter, water lightly only every 2- 3 weeks. Like most cacti, this specimen demands sandy soil-bases that drain easily

Feed Cactus monthly with low nitrogen fertilizer but it should stop one month before the planned winter cycle for the plant's health.

Landscape Uses

It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small.