Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Multiplying your cacti vegetatively.
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Hero878
Posts: 194
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2020 1:19 pm
Location: England, U.K.

Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Post by Hero878 »

I managed to get a cutting online from what seems like a very mature plant in the UK :D Cost me £10 which I think is a very fair price :D
However I noticed it is more oval in shape and not perfectly round as its other names would suggest, a wheel/silver dollar cactus. Any tips on how I can make sure the new growth will be round and why this was oval?
For now I have sprinkled cinnamon powder onto the fresh cut and will pot it up in like 2 weeks. How deep would you pot this? Just enough for stability?

Below are some photos of it. It's about 17 inches long and 11inches wide.
https://ibb.co/5M1jsPq
https://ibb.co/7vqCgCm
https://ibb.co/Y3W1fPk
https://ibb.co/fQVYbtv

Thank you
samhain
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2018 4:28 am
Location: Lucerne valley, ca

Re: Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Post by samhain »

I don’t think there is any forcing it to be round. Some specimens are more so than others. They aren’t too picky about potting, I usually bury enough to be stable, have seen recommendations of laying them flat for better rooting surface, I’ve planted them upside down.

If it has soil opuntia will grow. They are so easy I think it’s outrageous how much people charge for a pad.
15F-110F. 14” annual rainfall. 8b. 3000’
Hero878
Posts: 194
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2020 1:19 pm
Location: England, U.K.

Re: Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Post by Hero878 »

Thank you! Good to hear they are so robust as the name would suggest I guess :)
Yeah I agree regarding the price of pads. I also have an O. indica which I got totally ripped off for. £40 for a potted pad but it's pretty big with 4 smaller pads growing. Still never again now that I know how much they should be.
esp_imaging
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Re: Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Post by esp_imaging »

Hero878 wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:26 am However I noticed it is more oval in shape and not perfectly round as its other names would suggest, a wheel/silver dollar cactus. Any tips on how I can make sure the new growth will be round and why this was oval?
The pads are often more round than many other opuntias, but don't expect pads to be circles.
From llifle, pads are: "15-40 (or even more) cm long by 10 to 28 cm broad".

Exposing the plant to full, Arizona style sun may help get shorter, wider pads.
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Hero878
Posts: 194
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2020 1:19 pm
Location: England, U.K.

Re: Rooting opuntia robusta huge pad

Post by Hero878 »

esp_imaging wrote: Tue Jan 19, 2021 11:22 am
Hero878 wrote: Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:26 am However I noticed it is more oval in shape and not perfectly round as its other names would suggest, a wheel/silver dollar cactus. Any tips on how I can make sure the new growth will be round and why this was oval?
The pads are often more round than many other opuntias, but don't expect pads to be circles.
From llifle, pads are: "15-40 (or even more) cm long by 10 to 28 cm broad".

Exposing the plant to full, Arizona style sun may help get shorter, wider pads.
Hey thanks! The pad I got is 43cm long and 27cm wide...so seems its the maximum size based on that :D I only have UK sun unfortunately but will see how it goes.
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