

















Opuntia Humifusa

4.7 out of 5 (29 experiences)


Also known as
Smooth Prickly Pear, Smooth Prickly Pear, Devil's-tongue, Eastern Prickly Pear, Indian fig and Opuntia vulgaris
Taxonomy
Opuntia humifusa
Opuntia
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Opuntia Humifusa
How often to water your Opuntia Humifusa

every 12
Opuntia Humifusa needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesnāt 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
Finding light for Smooth Prickly Pear in your home

a window
Opuntia Humifusa love being close to bright, sunny windows š.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Opuntia Humifusa does not tolerate low-light š«.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Opuntia Humifusa in your home š”.
How to fertilize Opuntia Humifusa

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 itās likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Opuntia Humifusa after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.
-
Any way to help fix this discoloration? For some context, this didnāt just appear, it has been like this since I planted it. I wasnāt really sure if thereās a way to help it get greener like the rest of the plant, or if itāll just always be like that. #HappyPlants #smoothpricklypear #CactuClique #Cactus
-
My smooth prickly pear cactus, Prince, has 7 babies sprouting from him! I have had him for almost a month now and Iām so glad he didnāt die on me after all the struggle I went through with potting him. I had microscopic needles in my hands for DAYS after planting him. šš #HappyPlants #CactusClique #smoothpricklypear #sproutbaby #sprout
-
Why is my cactus floppy? š ššµ Hey #CactusClique and #Cactus loving Greggers, I have a problem. Why is my cactus so floppy? š This guy is a #PricklyPearCactus, and heās been growing this new pad for a couple months after flowering. The original pad was placed into the cactus soil unrooted with another prickly pear species, and two other pricklies have been added since then. His two lower pads have always been a little wrinkly, but over time theyāve been able to stand on their own without stakes⦠until now. I water when the soil is dry, I keep them under a plant light. And I try to support the floppy pad when itās too slumped over. Any suggestions out there as to how I can help this guy?
-
Hey #CactusClique and #Cactus loving Greggers, I have a problem. Why is my cactus so floppy? š This guy is a #PricklyPearCactus, and heās been growing this new pad for a couple months after flowering. The original pad was placed into the cactus soil unrooted with another prickly pear species, and two other pricklies have been added since then. His two lower pads have always been a little wrinkly, but over time theyāve been able to stand on their own without stakes⦠until now. I water when the soil is dry, I keep them under a plant light. And I try to support the floppy pad when itās too slumped over. Any suggestions out there as to how I can help this guy?
-
Cactus Concerns, part 2 Hello again! This is my #PricklyPearCactus, and they had some amazing blooms a few weeks ago. Now the blooms are weird, hollow stumps. Do I just leave those on? Or should I remove them? To be clear, Iām not talking about the new growth in the photo below; Iām talking about the weird little arms below it. ššµš¤·š» #cactusquestions #QueerPlantParents #afterblooms
-
We've finally woken up here in the "north!" After a loooooong 6 month dormancy, every one of these guys is alive and popping off. Tons of new pads coming, and even the pads that broke off during planting made it through the winter and are growing. Pleasantly surprised that I didn't lose any during their first big freeze! Anyone else up here finally getting growth outside? #cactus #cactusclique #outdoorgrowing #succulentsquad #opuntia #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict
-
Root Rot? #PricklyPearCactus my plant has started going soft and gray at the baseā I held off on watering for a while, but want to know if this is redeemable ? Is it root rot? Whatās the best move here!
-
Why is my cactus wrinkled and squishy? A couple weeks ago Elvis started to wrinkle and become squishy, I water my cacti once a week but I figured maybe this cactus should be watered less so I began watering Elvis once every 2 weeks and it's only gotten worse. What do i do?
-
I wasn't expecting these things to root so fast š š š #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #rootporn #planttherapy #cactusclique
-
Iām looking for a new pot for this baby since the one I have doesnāt have any drain hole but do prickly pears like more room or less room? I know succulents can be kind of picky I didnāt know if these guys are too #PricklyPearCactus
Care Summary for Opuntia Humifusa
Opuntia Humifusa
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say











Prickly pear cacti are really easy to care for. However, they do get quite large and tall. I was really surprised how big the cactus got despite being indoor and without grow lights. I keep him by the brightest spot in my apartment, in a south facing window. I let the pot soil aerate after watering by tilting it in the saucer so the draining hole doesnāt get moldy.







My experience with my prickly pear has been unique. I have a bearded dragon and they enjoy prickly pear as a special treat. So, I went to a local nursery and was given a free propagate with two existing buds from a friend. I have now had it for a month and a third bud has begun. My biggest note so far is that it is very slow growing (over the course of a month the third bud has only grown by a centimeter). However, the plant is hardy and took to the soil very well. Have some patience with this one!







I love this. I got him from a park near muse. My first succulent propagation. Super easy. Followed some online videos and tips and he has roots in no time. Let keep in mind my green thumb stays yellow and down.š Heās made me one happy plant mama.



