Prickly Pear Cactus 10"

The Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia species) is such a fun plant—quirky, paddle-shaped pads, sometimes with flowers or even edible fruit (hello, prickly pear margaritas 😄). 

🌞 Light

• This cactus is a sun-lover. It thrives in full sun, ideally 6+ hours a day.

• Indoors, give it the brightest spot you’ve got—south-facing window is 💯.

• If it's not getting enough sun, it might grow all stretched out (aka etiolation).

💧 Water

• Stick to the classic cactus rule: water only when the soil is bone dry.

• In spring/summer (its growing season), water every 2–3 weeks.

• In fall/winter, barely water—maybe once a month or even less.

• Overwatering is the #1 way to upset a prickly pear!

🌵 Soil

• Needs super well-draining soil. Cactus mix is perfect.

• You can DIY it by mixing potting soil with sand or perlite.

🪴 Pot

• Pot must have drainage holes—no exceptions!

• Terracotta pots are awesome because they let the soil dry out faster.

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

• Loves it hot and dry: 70–100°F is perfect.

• Can handle a bit of cold, but keep it above 50°F to be safe.

• No humidity needed—dry air is its comfort zone.

🌸 Flowers & Fruit

• Outdoors in the right conditions, they can bloom in bright yellow, orange, or pink.

• After flowering, some varieties produce edible fruits called tunas—but careful with the tiny spines!

🌿 Pruning & Propagation

• You can remove pads with gloves and let them callous over for a few days before replanting.

• Each pad is a potential new cactus baby!