Drooping prickly pear (Opuntia monacantha) is a fast-growing succulent shrub that will grow up to 6 m tall. It blooms in summer with yellowish to deep orange flowers that are large, up to 8 cm long, and 10 cm wide. The large fruit is reddish-purple and ripens in the fall. It grows best in full sun and sandy, well-drained soil.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Opuntia monacantha, commonly known as drooping prickly pear, cochineal prickly pear, or Barbary fig, is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae native to South America.
The species was first formally described in 1812 by botanist Adrian Haworth in Synopsis Plantarum Succulentarum. The name Opuntia vulgaris, which is a synonym of Opuntia ficus-indica, has been misapplied to this species in Australia. From Adrian Hardy Haworth, the species was in the genus 1819 Opuntia. Many authors, including Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose and Curt Backeberg stated that Opuntia monacantha was just another name for Opuntia vulgaris.
Opuntia monacantha is a succulent, thorny shrub that grows almost tree-like with several branches and a profusely expanded crown in branches that reaches a height of up to 5 meters. The oval to elongated shoots narrowed at the base are shiny green. They are quite thin and four to ten inches long. The widely spaced areoles have brownish glochids. The straight thorn (rarely two to three are present) is brown and between 3 and 4 centimeters long.
The dark yellow flowers reach a diameter of up to 8 centimeters. The pear-shaped, red fruits are thornless and up to 7 centimeters long.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Opuntia monacantha prefers a lot of light. Mature plants can tolerate heavy sun exposure and hot temperatures during the peak season. In the cooler months and winter, they are just fine indoors with bright indirect light from a window. Immature plants (under two years old) do well with lots of bright, indirect sunlight.
Temperature
Drooping prickly pear are very hardy and can grow outdoors year-round in USDA hardiness zones 9 and above, where daytime temperatures are almost always above. Mature plants can tolerate very high temperatures during the day and desert-like drops in temperature overnight. They prefer hot, dry summers and cooler fall and winter months. The plant cannot tolerate temperatures lower than -4° C and you should never keep this plant in an area where the nighttime temperature falls lower than 5° C.
Watering
Opuntia monacantha is very sensitive to water therefore optimum irrigation should be provided during early stages of growth. The plants do not irrigate immediately after planting. Light watering should be done after 2-3 days of planting and thereafter irrigation should be given at 10-15 days interval up to one year. Fully established plantations require light irrigation, 1-2 times a month is beneficial.
It is best to water thoroughly and then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Make sure the plant has plenty of good drainage so it is never standing in water. Water extremely sparingly during the late fall and winter months. In the wintertime, it’s best to keep the plant dry.
Soil
Opuntia monacantha can tolerate poor soil conditions. If growing on the ground, it even tolerates heavy soil to some extent if it doesn’t remain wet. However, it’s best to grow it in well-drained, light, sandy and loamy soil. Avoid clay-rich soil that is not well draining and promotes water-stagnation.
Fertilizing
Drooping prickly pear has very low fertilizer requirements. During growth, You can use a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer for cacti once a month. Winter application of manures and fertilizers has been reported very effective in obtaining new sprouts. They react very well to organic manures which also improve the soil structure, nutrient content and water-holding capacity.
If you grow the plant for its pads, feed with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. If you prefer more flowers and fruits, give the plants a no-nitrogen fertilizer such as 0-10-10 once a month, even through the winter. During this dormant period, the plants require a bright situation and enough water only to keep the pads from shriveling.
Pruning
Opuntia monacantha can be a grooming-free plant if you desire. You never need to prune them. Just cut off any unhealthy or unattractive parts as you wish to shape the plant and attain cuttings for propagation. Cut off flowers as they fade if you do not wish fruits to form. You may need to dust or rinse the plants occasionally. Use a feather duster for dusting and spray with the hose, outdoors in the summertime.
Propagation
Drooping prickly pear are usually propagated from cuttings or root segments. The easiest way to propagate this plant is through stem division. The pads of the plant will root quickly and easily when placed in or on good, well-draining cactus or succulent soil. To grow from cuttings, choose a healthy-looking section and cut it off cleanly with a very sharp knife.
Be sure to wear protective clothing, gloves and eye protection when handling this plant as the spines are so sharp. It is also propagated by seed that must be nicked and then pre-soaked at a temperature of 21° C overnight (seeds can hold for 1.5 months in a refrigerator), planted into a mixture of peat and sand and germinated, covered with foil and daily aerating and sprinkling crops. Seeds germinate long enough (up to 3 months). After the emergence of shoots, the film can be removed.
Potting and repotting
Drooping prickly pear will grow just fine in a garden, they can be grown in pots as well. When keeping this plant as a potted plant, use standard, packaged succulent or cactus mix as potting soil with pH level of 6.1-7.8. For a mixture of own preparation, take: 3 parts of coarse sand or perlite, 2 parts of turf ground, 2 parts humus, 2 parts peat. You can also add brick chips.
As the plant grows, it will need repotting. Don’t repot to frequently, instead wait until the plant is somewhat root-bound. Most of the time, repotting every two years is adequate. Springtime is the ideal time to repot and propagate the plant. To repot, ensure the soil is dry, then remove the pot and knock away the old soil, remove rotten and damaged roots. After treating any cuts with fungicide, place the plant in a new pot and backfill it with potting soil. As with a new cutting, make sure not to water a newly repotting plant for at least a week to avoid rotting its roots.
Overwintering
Drooping prickly pear’s natural habitat is the warm, arid regions of South America, where winter chill is uncommon. Yet, this hardy cactus has developed survival strategies to endure colder periods. Winter care for this plant requires indoor sheltering, reduced watering, and maintaining temperature above freezing to prevent damage to its fleshy pads. For this tropical survivor, the cooler months are a time of rest, readying for a vibrant spring comeback.
III. Uses and Benefits
Drooping prickly pear is a tree-sized cactus favored by gardeners who live in hot, dry climates and want a really spectacular-looking, hardy, wildlife-attracting succulent. Most common in desert gardens and succulent gardens, it is sometimes grown in containers as well.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Most fruits of drooping prickly pear are edible. Pick the fruit when they turn red. Avoid food safety issues by confirming the species with experts. Wear gloves or use scissors and other tools to harvest.
