1/10

Brownspine Prickly Pear

About Brownspine Prickly Pear

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

Brownspine 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.

Brownspine Prickly Pear belongs to the Opuntia genus, and is native to the Southwest United States and Northeast Mexico.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Opuntia phaeacantha

Genus

Opuntia

Family

Cactaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Also known as

Tulip prickly pear and Desert prickly pear

How to care for Brownspine Prickly Pear

💦 Water

How often to water your Brownspine Prickly Pear

Brownspine 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 Brownspine Prickly Pear in your home

Brownspine 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.

Brownspine Prickly Pear does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Brownspine Prickly Pear

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

Browse #BrownspinePricklypear

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Brownspine Prickly Pear is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Brownspine Prickly Pear →

Common Brownspine Prickly Pear Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Brownspine 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.

Brownspine Prickly Pear Water Frequency →

Brownspine Prickly Pear Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Brownspine 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 🏡.

Brownspine Prickly Pear Light Requirements →

Brownspine Prickly Pear Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Brownspine 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.

Brownspine Prickly Pear Toxicity to Cats →

Brownspine Prickly Pear Toxicity to Dogs →

Brownspine Prickly Pear Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Brownspine 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.

Brownspine Prickly Pear Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Brownspine 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 Brownspine Prickly Pear →

When and How to Successfully Repot Brownspine Prickly Pear →

💩 Fertilizer

Brownspine 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 Brownspine Prickly Pear →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Brownspine 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

Brownspine Prickly Pear is native to the Americas.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Brownspine Prickly Pear grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

How and When to Prune Brownspine Prickly Pear →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Brownspine Prickly Pear can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Brownspine Prickly Pear Temperature Tolerance →

🌱 Propagation

Brownspine Prickly Pear can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Brownspine 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.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Brownspine 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!