STEP BY STEP

Take prickly pear cuttings

It’s a simple – and painless – process to take cuttings from a prickly pear cactus, as long as you arm yourself with tongs or thick gloves to protect your hands from the barbed spines. Cuttings should root readily in the warmth and high light conditions of the growing season, so now is the ideal time to try it. You need to allow the cut end to dry out, which can take several days, before you pot up the cuttings. Use a free-draining, lownutrient compost, but keep it just damp during rooting. Select a healthy pad and hold it gently with tongs. Snip it off cleanly at the base and lay it in the light to let the cut dry out and callus. Fill a small pot with an equalparts mix of cuttings compost and grit or perlite. Then carefully insert the cutting, using the tongs. Firm the compost so the cutting stands upright. Water in well, then place in light shade to root over the summer.