Plant Care Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Black-Spined Prickly Pear

5.0 out of 5 (1 experiences)

Black-Spined Prickly Pear has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate
Black-Spined Prickly Pear has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Black-Spined Prickly Pear is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Plant parents describe this plant as easy to propagate and being a survivor with only 73 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!🌟

Black-Spined Prickly Pear likes soil that is extremely well-draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Taxonomy

Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia
Cactaceae
Caryophyllales

Also known as

Longspine pricklypear, Long-spined purplish prickly pear, Purple pricklypear, Purple Prickly Pear and opuntia violacea

How to care for Black-Spined Prickly Pear

💦 Water

How often to water your Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Water needs for Black-Spined Prickly Pear
0.5 cups
every 12

Black-Spined 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.

Calculate water needs of Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Black-Spined Prickly Pear in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Black-Spined Prickly Pear: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Black-Spined 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.

Black-Spined Prickly Pear does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Black-Spined Prickly Pear in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Black-Spined 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 Black-Spined Prickly Pear after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #BlackSpinedPricklypear
💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Black-Spined 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.

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Water Frequency →

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Black-Spined 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 🏡.

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Light Requirements →

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Toxicity to Cats →

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Toxicity to Dogs →

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Black-Spined Prickly Pear prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Black-Spined Prickly Pear Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Black-Spined Prickly Pear is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Black-Spined Prickly Pear →

When and How to Successfully Repot Black-Spined Prickly Pear →


💩 Fertilizer

Black-Spined Prickly Pear grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Black-Spined Prickly Pear →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Black-Spined Prickly Pear to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Black-Spined Prickly Pear is native to the Americas.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Black-Spined Prickly Pear grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Black-Spined Prickly Pear →


🧐 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.


Care Summary for Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Black-Spined Prickly Pear

Black-Spined Prickly Pear


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Black-Spined Prickly Pear has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 1
Black-Spined Prickly Pear has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 1
@NishLaursen avatar
@@NishLaursen
leaf-1 36 Plants
xp 803 XP
globe Arvada, CO
06/27/2021

Easy to care for since its a cactus, doesn’t require a lot of water, easy to propagate but be careful and ware rubber gloves it has very fine prickly hairs on the paddles near the long black spines.

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor

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