![]() ![]() Several types of prickly pears produce pads and fruit that are edible. Prickly pears don’t normally suffer from any serious disease or insect problems, although they can be affected by rot if grown with poor drainage. On new plants, flowers and fruit will usually appear by the second or third pad that grows. You can water it at this time as well and follow the watering guidelines above, making sure to let it dry out completely in between.After a month, there should be enough roots that your plant can stand on its own, but continue the support if it’s still a little wobbly. Prop it up with rocks or other means of support until roots grow over the next month or so.Don’t water it for the first month, as there is enough moisture within the pad to sustain itself.If planted any deeper, your plant can rot. Once fully calloused over, plant pads in a mixture of half soil and half sand at a depth of 1 inch.This prevents the new plant from rotting at the base and can take 2 to 4 weeks in warm, dry weather, longer if it is cool or humid. Set the pads out in a dry area with light shade and allow the cut end to form a callus.Pads that are at least 6 months old can be cut off by following the pruning instructions above.Propagation from pads is much simpler and yields faster results. The seeds need shade to germinate and should be kept moist until that time. Initial growth from seed is slow and it may take 3 to 4 years before your plant produces flowers and fruit. Photo by: Selma Jacquet / Alamy Stock Photo. Supplement in times of drought with the twice-a-month/once-a-month seasonal schedule.Ī new prickly pear growing from a pad cutting. In most areas, rainfall will be enough to sustain established plants. After that, water every two to four weeks for the first year - twice a month in summer and once a month other times of the year. Don’t water newly propagated pads for the first month. Prickly pears are extremely drought tolerant. If you are growing for the pads, use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. For established plants, a 5-10-10 or even 0-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer will promote more flowers and fruit. Amendments & Fertilizer:įertilize young plants with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. More importantly, however, the soil needs to drain well, as residual moisture or puddling can cause the plant to rot. Prickly pears prefer alkaline to neutral soil. Pads can be calloused off to be planted elsewhere or shared with friends. Use tongs to hold the pad and a sharp knife to cut it off at the joint, or line where it connects to the next pad. Remove individual pads as needed to maintain shape and size. ![]() It’s not necessary to prune prickly pears, but they can be cut back. ![]()
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