Darwin's Prickly Pear

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Maihueniopsis darwinii var. hickenii

Genus

Maihueniopsis

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Darwin's Prickly Pear

💦 Water

How often to water your Darwin's Prickly Pear

Darwin's Prickly Pear needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Darwin's Prickly Pear in your home

Darwin's Prickly Pear love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Darwin's Prickly Pear does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Darwin's Prickly Pear in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Darwin's Prickly Pear

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Darwin's Prickly Pear: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Darwin's Prickly Pear after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Darwin's Prickly Pear thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Darwin's Prickly Pear requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Darwin's Prickly Pear is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Darwin's Prickly Pear can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Darwin's Prickly Pear. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!