Tropica Prickly pear

The prickly pear cactus is a beautiful ornamental plant that is also suitable for making drinks. Its fruits are partly edible and resemble figs in shape and taste. This plant belongs to one of the largest and most widespread cactus genera. The size of prickly pear cacti ranges from 10 cm to 4-6 meters in height. The most distinctive feature is the flat, spiny "ears."

Origin: From southern Canada to Tierra del Fuego, the Caribbean, and the Galapagos Islands.

Cultivation: Seeds can be grown indoors year-round. Mix finely grated growing soil with about 25% fine sand (quartz sand is preferable). The soil should not be too coarse to prevent the seeds from falling through. Moisten the mixture with a water spray and sprinkle the fine seeds over it. All cacti are light germinators and should not be covered. It is important to maintain sufficient warmth (16-25°C) and high humidity. Cover each seed tray with foil or a glass pane and aerate for 2 hours every 2 to 3 days. After one year, transplanting into commercial cactus soil is possible.

Location / Light: Prickly pears thrive in bright and warm places during the summer. They can be planted outdoors if protected from rain.

Watering: Water only when the substrate has dried out. Young plants should generally be kept a little moister. Rainwater or decalcified water is ideal. Avoid excess water to prevent waterlogging and root rot. In warm locations, spray the plant from above with a sprayer every 2 weeks.

Fertilizing: Feed the plant with cactus fertilizer every 3 weeks from April to the end of August. Moisten the soil beforehand to avoid damaging the roots.

Winter storage: A location indoors at 5° to 10° C is suitable. They can also spend the winter outdoors in a protected area.

Seed pack contains 40 seeds.