How do you fertilize a prickly pear cactus?

Your Prickly Pear Cactus requires fertilizer once in the spring and once in the summer. Apply an all-purpose, liquid plant food diluted to half strength. Do not fertilize your Prickly Pear in the fall or winter when plant growth naturally slows. Non-toxic to pets and children.

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In this regard, do prickly pears need fertilizer?

Few of us ever think about fertilizer when it comes to prickly pear. During their growing period, spring through fall, they benefit from applications of a balanced fertilizer and can use about as much water as any of your other cultivated plants… … Continue this fertilizer even through the winter.

Also, how do you take care of prickly pears? Like all cacti, the prickly pear needs dry conditions, well-draining soil, and lots of sunlight to thrive. Make sure they are getting the sunniest, driest spot in your garden when planting outdoors. “If you’re growing your plant indoors, make sure your pot has holes in the bottom for drainage,” Churchill says.

One may also ask, how do I get my prickly pear cactus to bloom?

Fertilize cacti only in the spring and early summer, using a cactus-specific fertilizer or a highly diluted fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium. Overfeeding will not make your cactus bloom! Repot your cactus using a potting mix designed for cacti and succulents.

What is a good cactus fertilizer?

Most cacti and succulents don’t need a specific blend. They grow healthy and happy when fed with a highly diluted all-purpose fertilizer. However, a low-nitrogen content, water-soluble fertilizer is best suited for the job. Use a 5-10-10 blend or 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to 1/4th strength.

What kind of fertilizer do you use for a cactus?

Cacti fertilizer requirements are pretty simple. Any good houseplant food (diluted to half) that’s higher in phosphorus than nitrogen is a good choice. A 5-10-5 solution can work well.

What kind of fertilizer is 10/10 10?

10-10-10 fertilizer is a synthetic, all-purpose fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in that order. It’s easy to use and good for plants that need a lot of nitrogen, such as established perennials, leafy green crops, and turf grasses.

How often do you water a prickly pear cactus?

Prickly pears are extremely drought tolerant. Don’t water newly propagated pads for the first month. 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. In most areas, rainfall will be enough to sustain established plants.

How often do prickly pear cactus bloom?

Its yellow, red, and orange cup-shape flowers last just one day, but a large clump of prickly pears will bloom

genus name Opuntia
height Under 6 inches 6 to 12 inches 1 to 3 feet 3 to 8 feet
width To 6 feet wide
flower color Pink Yellow

What is the lifespan of a prickly pear cactus?

20 years

How do you grow Opuntia?

Plant the pad upright about 1 inch deep in a mixture of 1 part sand or rough pumice and 1 part soil. Use rocks to anchor the pad and keep it upright. Do not water it. Prickly pear pads contain moisture, enabling them to sprout roots.

Can prickly pear cactus grow in shade?

Light. As with most cacti, the eastern prickly pear does best in full sun for at least eight hours a day. That being said, it can handle partial shade if it’s planted in hotter climates, like a more traditional desert landscape.

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