opuntia rooting?
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- Posts: 56
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:01 am
- Location: Tasmania, Australia
opuntia rooting?
These small blobs came off the big plant pictured poking up above the 6 foot high fence you can see. One was on the ground, the other I snapped off. Are the small blobs too small/immature to root? Do I need to cut the broken stalk bit off or slice right across the base of the blobs to expose flesh to get them to root?
Also any ideas what species? The blobs are about 2inches each and have a half inch depression in the tops (pic3).
Thanks
Also any ideas what species? The blobs are about 2inches each and have a half inch depression in the tops (pic3).
Thanks
That looks like Opuntia Ficus-Indica
Those blobs are unripened fruits, I'm not sure about this species but some fruits will root and start a new plant. They root through the areoles so you don't need to expose flesh underneath. The easier way to start a plant is to cut a large pad of the main plant, let the cut area dry for a week then plant. It will root quickly in warm weather.
Those blobs are unripened fruits, I'm not sure about this species but some fruits will root and start a new plant. They root through the areoles so you don't need to expose flesh underneath. The easier way to start a plant is to cut a large pad of the main plant, let the cut area dry for a week then plant. It will root quickly in warm weather.
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- Posts: 2974
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:17 am
- Location: SF Bay Area (Zone 9b)
Byron,
Here are a couple of rooted Opuntia fruits I found in the driveway. I believe there are O. elata or possibly anacantha. It blooms later than most other Opuntias I have here, so the fruits are usually sterile and almost all grow into new plants when they hit the ground. They make great grafting stock also.
Here are a couple of rooted Opuntia fruits I found in the driveway. I believe there are O. elata or possibly anacantha. It blooms later than most other Opuntias I have here, so the fruits are usually sterile and almost all grow into new plants when they hit the ground. They make great grafting stock also.
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- Posts: 2974
- Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:17 am
- Location: SF Bay Area (Zone 9b)