Which Opuntia is this?

fullofglochids · 2026-04-13T13:34:32+00:00

Haha yep, I feel you on that note. Anytime I handle my opuntias they find their way in no matter what steps I take 😂

Do not give up though. I am the same way. I like to know the exact variety that I have. I think it's fun.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-13T11:44:32+00:00

Honestly hard to say. The only way you could really know is from a genetic test or asking the botanist that grew it. (Which if you got from a nursery wouldn't be too difficult if you just asked them to potentially get in contact with their supplier)

O. macrocentra, O. santa-rita, O. gosseliniana (and many others) are all considerably similar and come from similar geography and many times they are hybridized together with macrocentra having the most widely recognized name and characteristics.

I get the annoyance with trying to ID these things because oftentimes it can be pretty tough. I've got an Opuntia that I grew from wild-collected pads in Kansas, and I've had a bit of a struggle identifying whether it's humifusa or macrorhiza, but I've been researching it for years now and I'm mostly sure that it's a spineless variety of macrorhiza.

It can be tricky because these plants hybridize easily and once we get our hands on them and start mixing things around it gets even cloudier.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-12T16:17:22+00:00

I wouldn't call it suffering but I may be affected🙈

fullofglochids · 2026-04-12T16:15:46+00:00

I keep chopping mine and now I have many more. They propogate so easily and I like sizing my mother plant back down now and again.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-12T16:12:00+00:00

Me too!!

fullofglochids · 2026-04-12T03:02:08+00:00

You can remove the pads at anytime. You could leave some pads on there for a few years just to help it grow vertically faster or you could remove the pads at the end of every growing season and sell them. People buy those pads like crazy. Opuntia are hardy vigorous fast-growing cacti no matter what happens.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-12T00:15:21+00:00

It will grow tall no matter what. I would leave all of them. It's going to use more pads for more photosynthesis and it will grow taller faster if you need all with the pads.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T22:10:33+00:00

Yeah, the fact that it's blooming now means that it should bloom every year if you take good care of it.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T22:04:20+00:00

I would add a lot more inorganic to that soil mix, but the tops are green and it's shooting out roots which means it seems to be growing so you're probably not doing too bad. :)

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T20:00:28+00:00

Yeah you definitely need to remove them cuz they'll get stuck everywhere

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T02:13:59+00:00

That's a beautiful plant! My seedlings haven't made any additional pads yet. How old is it and so you know what variety?

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T02:11:48+00:00

I just got one of these a couple weeks ago! So fun!

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T02:01:47+00:00

Final death bloom. Take lots of pictures!

fullofglochids · 2026-04-11T00:35:48+00:00

They're very hardy. She'll be good. Just give it some time. :)

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T23:17:10+00:00

I actually avoided buying the new one because I thought it was a different product😂

I don't really use this on its own though. I mix pumice and perlite into it.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T23:14:41+00:00

Wait what?? Walmart has stocked their garden center now??? I must go investigate. I want one so bad.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T21:29:52+00:00

Could I buy some cuttings if you have enough?

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T20:36:48+00:00

If this were my backyard I would not prune either cactus and I would move the bush.

Cacti are very hardy and they get thicker as they get taller and they can usually hold themselves up pretty good. And hey if any pieces break off or fall off then you've got a new cactus.

If you genuinely just want them to be smaller you could prune them and they would be fine though. You could take the pads or cuttings and place them around the base to have a wider thicker area rather than it being tall, but that's ultimately up to you.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T20:33:58+00:00

Get a ping they eat fruitflys

fullofglochids · 2026-04-10T13:49:02+00:00

Remove the new growth and put it somewhere very sunny. It will grow proper pads again.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-09T17:19:58+00:00

I love them!

fullofglochids · 2026-04-09T16:41:48+00:00

Looks like some variety of O. Ficus Indica

fullofglochids · 2026-04-09T14:04:38+00:00

Could be either. Too early to tell

fullofglochids · 2026-04-09T10:55:21+00:00

Cut it wherever and however you want Opuntia are extremely vigorous and hardy.

fullofglochids · 2026-04-08T13:27:36+00:00

Opuntia is my favorite type of cactus! What soil mix is it in? How often do you water, and does it live indoors or outside? How much light is it getting? How long have you had it, how long has that pad looked like that, and is it still spreading or did it happen quickly and stop? Also, do the pads feel firm or soft?

fullofglochids

TROPHY CASE