How to turn one plant into many plants | Propagate prickly pear with me!

Many cactus and succulents are very easy to propagate - it's another way these plants reproduce in the wild, by literally cloning themselves. I happened to have some prickly pear pads lying around the garden so I thought I would take the opportunity to show you how I propagate these plants. Is there a set recipe for propagation success? Not really. Rule-of-thumb? Perhaps. Let the wounds of the propagate dry and/or callous before planting. Once planted, wait patiently for the plant to root before watering. This is probably the hardest part. The risk of watering too soon is rot but rot is not necessarily the end of the world either, especially for Opuntia.

The key is to these thing is to experiment and try, fail, then try again and again and again until you start to relax and get a feel for how things go. At some point, casualties will still happen but it just won't be a big deal anymore. Have fun with it!

DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert! Don't listen to me if what I say doesn't make sense. The only way to figure out what works for you and your climate is to try it (and have fun).

[cookiescacti]

Hello my cactus friends! I've received multiple comments about how distracting the dog barking is. And I hear ya! Unfortunately, it's my neighbor's dog and I have absolutely no control over it. Our yards are separated by 6.5 feet tall cinder block fences so I don't even know what the dog looks like!

[ThatneMonkey]

A fellow cacti/succs addict here…I planted several pp pads about 6 months ago and they still have not rooted. Your video showed me I may not have covered them up enough. I thought the roots came from the callous! Glad I found your channel, really well done!

[misfitmouse]

Thank you this was very informative and I loved seeing all the different types and ways they grow. I’m just starting and came across this video and just had to say thanks!!❤

[BillLowenburg]

Thanks! While on vacation at the Jersey Shore I found a pad on the sidewalk in front of someone’s yard where they were growing. Wrapped it in a piece of newspaper and brought it home. I’m gonna let it sit on a shelf for a couple of weeks, then stick it in some soil and sand in a pot and NOT water it and see what happens. I like low maintenance plants and people. Thanks again, great video.

[krossrn]

This is the best video on prickly pears that I have seen. Thank you I learned a lot.

[januaryhymn]

Beautiful kitty! And very helpful video!! I appreciate the reassurance, so helpful for someone like me who is just starting out!

[jwesenberg]

Wonderful video. I live on the west side of the Valley and have over the last few months planted my back lot in Agave, Aloa, Cactus and Yucca, almost entirely from pups and shoots, maybe 35 plants so far. Today I cut my first Prickly Pear pads and I am attempting to root those. Thanks for your tips.

[michellefernandez]

Im in Tampa Florida i got a pad my brother got me its winter here now. Im glad i found this video ❤

[pappypeep]

Thank you so much for this video. I imagine MANY a cactus has been saved because of you posting this video. Much thanks!!!

[rhondastieler]

Found your video a few months ago… my cactus has flowered already! Can’t wait to see it grow.
But based on the flower I would say it’s happy.

[carrlozXemiliano]

Thank you for your knowledge. I am currently experimenting with a nopal I used as a mask and know potting soil this was helpful to know my instincts are well underway. Everything about this video was perfect! ❤

[Lisa-knxd]

Thank you so much for this video.
This is definitely a big help to me. I have a beautiful prickly pear cactus out in front of my house and it recently collapsed and we had high winds and I’m assuming because it was heavy it fell. My husband has cut off certain pieces and we have them in the backyard and I was going to wait and see what to do but your video has now told me what I can do. Wasn’t sure for several days that it would be OK but now you’ve given me hope. Very informative and helpful video.Thank You. ❤

[rickperez]

Great video, thank you for all your knowledge and love of 🌵's. God bless you sister.

[rogersambou]

Very nice simple to understand video, Thank you

[hachibahn]

thanks ! i am in Phoenix, not an expert on cacti at all but i really enjoy the different varieties, need to get a road kill for my little collection...currently propagating some native prickly pear and purple prickly pear. thanks again, great video, very helpful.

[groovybuddha]

Thank you so much for the info you saved me from making a fatal mistake. I cut a pad off of a long spined purplish prickly pear cactus and I left in the perfect spot on the side of the house by accident. It got the perfect mix of sun and shade. And forgot about it for almost 2 weeks. Then I noticed a striking beautiful yellow flower dazzled with a lipstick red on the inside and it had two layers of this. So I put it in a pot with soil rocks and watered it. But I will forget about it again. However that flower is so marvelous! Thanks again

[bradleydanek]

This was very helpful. I have tortoises and other reptiles that love eating these. I want to start growing my own and you really helped with your information thank you.

[janetg]

Excellent video and explanation ❤ The summer of 2021 I found a tiny single piece of prickly pear growing in a corner of my yard. It was literally the size of my thumb nail. I had just rescued a puppy who digs up anything but the fence. Lol so I pulled it out of the ground and did exactly this process. I didn't use any soil at all. I only used the dirt in my yard. Today I just planted in the ground near my front door because it was getting way to big for a pot. I'm so shocked because I kill every plant I've tried. I love these because It's really hard to kill them and your water bill isn't sky high I'm in Tucson...

[jimini]

New Sub, Love your tours of all the cacti nurseries in AZ. I'm in upstate NY, my collection is packed in my basement for winter. I have around 500 or more plants, most are big prickly pear and bunny ears that were propagated from fallen pads and cuttings. I grew a bunch from seed for the first time in 2019 and they are doing well. The rest came from big box stores. I haven't made it to the western part of the USA yet. Someday I hope to visit TX, NM and AZ. I'm trying to grow apple trees this winter indoors👍🙂

[grasssnake]

Best video I've seen on the subject. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.