Black-Spined Prickly Pear
5.0 out of 5 (1 experiences)
Easy to propagate
Survivor
About Black-Spined Prickly Pear
Black-Spined Prickly Pear is a relatively rare houseplant šæ that needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light āļø 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 31 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!š
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
every 12
Black-Spined Prickly Pear needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesnāt get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot located in Atlanta, Georgia.
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
Light
Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Atlanta, Georgia
40% Low
Growing Black-Spined Prickly Pear in Atlanta right now
Plant growth potential is currently medium š
February 4th, 2023
Sunlight energy as measured by ānet radiationā in Atlanta is currently medium š.
The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in determiniā¦
Sunlight will increase by 32.4% āļø
February 5th, 2023
Atlanta is trending towards greater sunlight intensity!
The amount of sunlight in Atlanta is expected to increase by 32.4% over the next 2 weeks to an average of 11.5 megajoules of energy per m2 pā¦
Daylight will increase by 0.9 hours š
February 2nd, 2023
This month, Atlanta is getting an average of 6.9 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.
Hours of daylight will increase by 9% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 10.8 total hours of dayligā¦
Finding light for Black-Spined Prickly Pear in your home
a window
Black-Spined Prickly Pear love being close to bright, sunny windows š.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in Atlanta, Georgia ā .
Black-Spined Prickly Pear does not tolerate low-light š«.
Nutrients
How to fertilize Black-Spined Prickly Pear
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 Black-Spined Prickly Pear after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.
When to repot Black-Spined Prickly Pear
Is this a good time of year to repot? No ā³
February 5th, 2023
The growing potential in Atlanta is low š.
Repotting in late fall or winter when the day lengths are shorter can be very stressful for a plant and cause it to go into shock.
It's best to repotā¦
FAQs
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.
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 šŖ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home š”.
Toxicity
Greg does not have confirmed data on this plantās toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, itās always best to consult a medical professional.
If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control atĀ US (800) 222-1222.Ā If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA atĀ US (888) 426-4435.
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.
Soil
Black-Spined Prickly Pear is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesnāt 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!
Fertilizer
Black-Spined Prickly Pear grows very slowly and doesnāt require added fertilizer. Replacing your plantās potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Dormancy
Itās 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.
Care Summary for 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 your location in Atlanta, Georgia, the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Easy to propagate 1
Survivor 1
06/27/2021
Easy to care for since its a cactus, doesnāt 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
Survivor
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