Prickly Pear Cactus plants have rapidly become a mainstream success, convincing decorators as well as indoor gardeners as well to turn into one of the most popular houseplants for sale today.
The Prickly Pear Cactus belongs to the Succulents group of plants. While Prickly Pear Cactus is the popular name, the official scientific name is Opuntia monacantha. The scientific name really helps lots of people differentiate one plant from another one in the Succulents family.
These plants grow best with the conditions found in nearly all households and also workplaces. Together with the ideal sunlight, amount of water and humidity level, your Prickly Pear Cactus may live well too. These plants are an optimal choice for growing in your own home. With the right mix of lighting, watering, temperature as well as humidity, anyone can help your Prickly Pear Cactus flourish.
How much light should Prickly Pear Cactus plants get?
Getting the proper lighting conditions will likely help this plant grow and stay healthy. Indirect bright sunlight will let it prosper. A sunny window is one of the absolute best places to get bright indirect light for indoor plants like the Prickly Pear Cactus. Preferably, your Prickly Pear Cactus will most likely do better if it receives a minimum of 6 hours of indirect bright light every single day.
A lot of sunlight may harm your plant. It’s ideal to avoid direct exposure to harsh light throughout summer months when the sun is strongest. And in the case that your plant does not receive enough light, it may lead to slower growth, droopiness, or fallen leaves.
You’ll see that your plant will try to grow towards the light. You can gradually rotate your Prickly Pear Cactus plant pot about a quarter turn weekly. This extra step allows your plant get even lighting. This step also prevents your plant from leaning towards the light source. Finding the right lighting balance will go a very long way to making your plant happy. More than 50% of plant parents say they are concerned their plants are not getting the perfect amount of sunlight.
What’s the best amount of water for my Prickly Pear Cactus?
Learning about how much water your Prickly Pear Cactus genuinely needs to have can help you care for a healthier plant. Interestingly, Prickly Pear Cactus plants want little water and would prefer to be dry. They thrive when receiving water every few weeks.
When unsure about watering, it’s best to opt to hold back. Just remember – your Prickly Pear Cactus always wants to be on the drier side. When you do water your Prickly Pear Cactus, be sure to provide it adequate water to soak through the soil, simulating a powerful rainstorm. Watering with filtered water is regularly better. This is especially true if you have especially hard or heavily-chlorinated water which may damage your plant.
Tips to avoid Prickly Pear Cactus overwatering
Never overwater your Prickly Pear Cactus plant. The number one reason for houseplant decline and death through overwatering.
What may happen if you overwater your plant? You may entice parasites or fungal infections that could be deadly. How do I stop myself from overwatering my Prickly Pear Cactus? Just wait until the top inch of soil is completely dry between waterings.
In addition, putting your Prickly Pear Cactus plant in a pot that includes drain holes and a dish will help unwanted water efficiently drain through. By allowing water to go through the pot, your Prickly Pear Cactus roots will likely stay drier than if the water was stuck in the planter. Without adequate drainage, your plant could see parasites and fungus as the roots sit in standing water.
How to not under water Prickly Pear Cactus plants
Underwatering your Prickly Pear Cactus plant can also lead to decline. It’s highly recommended that you water the plant once the top inch of soil becomes dry. Your timing may not have to be precise, and your plant can be a little bit adaptable on timing. You may observe your plant drying as it attempts to retain moisture if you forget to water it on a regular basis.
The best temperature for Prickly Pear Cactus
Like many houseplants, Prickly Pear Cactus plants like average indoor temperatures. This makes them excellent plants for the home. If your region has seasonal changes in temperature, it’s best to stay clear of locations that may be susceptible to cool drafts or extreme heat. Your plant will remain healthy and grow if placed in an environment that’s consistent at all times.
Because of this, it’s best to refrain from placing your Prickly Pear Cactus next to drafty windows or exterior doors that get opened frequently throughout periods that experience excessive cool or heat. By managing a consistent interior temperature, your Prickly Pear Cactus plant will have a long, good life.
Best humidity for Prickly Pear Cactus
These plants do better in areas with average moisture. This makes them very popular with many people wanting to furnish their home using an easy-to-care-for plant. If you feel confident with the air humidity in your house, the chances are your Prickly Pear Cactus plant will also feel right comfortable.
What’s the best way to sustain normal humidity for your Prickly Pear Cactus?
It should be really simple to keep your space inviting to your Prickly Pear Cactus plant with its average moisture requirements. However, if you live in a dry desert climate or have very cold winters, you may see the moisture drop to a less than ideal range.
If this is the case, an inexpensive spray bottle can be used to mist your plants on a regular basis to keep the humidity up. You can likewise get a compact humidifier to add humidity to the space – for the benefit of you and your Prickly Pear Cactus equally.
Sustaining consistent humidity will keep your plant healthy and encourage new growth of your Prickly Pear Cactus plant.
Prickly Pear Cactus fertilizer
Fertilizing your Prickly Pear Cactus may give more nutrients to really help it grow stronger. It’s ideal to fertilize your plant right before the spring growth season. This will help your plant prepare to grow. This may also be the ideal time to see if you should relocate it to a larger planter if it looks to be getting a little cramped. You may even make use of this time to change out old or compacted soil to promote new growth for the summer months ahead.
Is Prickly Pear Cactus toxic to pets?
Prickly Pear Cactus plants are toxic and unsafe for cats, dogs and other pets. If you have any household pets that can be affected, it’s ideal to shop for a different plant, given the toxic nature regarding this plant to your furry friends.
What to look for in picking the most ideal Prickly Pear Cactus at the nursery
Think you can grow a brand new Prickly Pear Cactus plant after checking this guide on PottedPlants.org? While shopping, you could find large Prickly Pear Cactus plants at your local plant store. Often, you should be able to get plants that are about 17″-21″ to add to your assortment.
When buying your houseplant, take a look for any discolored leaves, insects in the soil, or other indicators of damage. This check will ensure your plant is in good shape and will thrive at home. Make sure you give your plant enough time to adjust to its new home – don’t forget, this is a huge move for your new houseplant. It should adapt if you provide the right care as outlined by this quick guide.