Frost-resistant cactus from Mexico that produces edible and really tasty fruits.

Opuntia ficus indica, also known as the prickly pear cactus, originates from Mexico but is now grown worldwide in tropical and Mediterranean climates as both an ornamental plant and a fruit crop. The cactus's thorns are reduced and even fall off after a short time, making it virtually impossible to prick yourself. It is also frost-resistant down to -10°C and can be grown outdoors with winter protection.

Care.

The prickly pear cactus is very hardy and grows well even in soils that are not particularly fertile and dry. It is even tolerant of light frost down to -8°C if it is not wet at the same time, which can otherwise lead to rot. Late frosts in spring are poorly tolerated, as the new shoots freeze to death. In our area, it can be cared for as an indoor plant or even as a garden plant in a suitable location with mineral-rich soil.

Care.

Prickly pear cactus thrives in direct sun and warm temperatures . It can be fed cactus fertilizer every two weeks. It should be planted in a very loose, mineral-rich and well-drained substrate . In summer, the plant should be watered regularly and abundantly, but always so that there is no waterlogging.

During autumn and winter, watering should be significantly reduced , and for specimens planted outdoors, you should keep the soil around the plant dry. For this, you can cover the ground around the plant with a waterproof tarpaulin. In this way, it can survive frosts down to about -10°C. Then protect the plant with jute and or heating coil during the winter.

From autumn onwards, the stem sections start to become slightly wrinkled and often lose their ability to stand up. This is nothing to worry about. The cactus concentrates its cell sap and collects sugar in the cells, which lowers the freezing point. This is an anti-freeze mechanism!

Botanical description.

Opuntia ficus indica is believed to originate from central Mexico where its closest relatives are also found.

Fruits and flowers.

Commercially, it is grown primarily for its edible, sweet and sour fruits, which are widely used in Mexican cooking. Cultivation is particularly facilitated by the fact that the flowers are autogamous, meaning they pollinate themselves and form fruits.

Appearance.

The prickly pear cactus typically grows to around 3 metres in height, and the individual, flat stem sections grow 20 to 60 cm long and 10 to 30 cm wide. Over time, a woody stem forms. Grow your own exotic fruits, buy prickly pear cactus online!