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Junkheadrev
The River Doctor


Registered: 11/07/11
Posts: 251
Loc: New Arizona
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Opuntia Galapageia soil?
#18739469 - 08/21/13 08:05 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I just received my O.Galapageia and hope to one day crossbreed it with an O.echios or saxicola . This is one of the few Galapagos island opuntia species that have evolved to grow huge tree like trunks in order to escape the long necks of the local tortoise species. It was not cheap but I hope to grow and propagate the single pad I received , seeing as it is all but impossible to find the Galapagos species in the states. This is it.
 Hopefully it will look like this in a few years. http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/polylepis/4227061186/ Anyway , does anyone know what the proper soil mixture would be for these species , I currently have it in 50/30/20 miracle grow cactus soil , perlite and sand. Also are pricky pear cactus self fertile ? Here is a related species http://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opuntia_echios_-_Santa_Fe,_Galapagos.jpg
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prismism


Registered: 05/11/09
Posts: 5,570
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Re: Opuntia Galapageia soil? [Re: Junkheadrev]
#18739915 - 08/21/13 09:28 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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That's an awesome Opuntia, man. It should grow a new pad or two during the next growing season. I personally hate miracle grow cactus soil, but your mixture is proper, and should work out just fine. If you have a sifter, then use that to rid your MG cactus soil of all the woody sticks and chunks.
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Junkheadrev
The River Doctor


Registered: 11/07/11
Posts: 251
Loc: New Arizona
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Re: Opuntia Galapageia soil? [Re: prismism]
#18740098 - 08/21/13 10:10 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks man. I hope it grows fast , it should seeing as it's an opuntia. Yeah I sift out the wood before I mix the soil. I don't get why they think they should put branches in cactus soil anyway. I hope it grows the same way from cutting.
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gopener
lil_dude



Registered: 06/16/13
Posts: 512
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Re: Opuntia Galapageia soil? [Re: Junkheadrev]
#18747243 - 08/23/13 12:56 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Opuntias are very tough cacti!!
People grow them here outdoors and i see a lot near the sea!(we have many rains here)
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Edited by gopener (08/23/13 12:57 PM)
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intelligentlife
Noaidi



Registered: 10/18/10
Posts: 2,627
Loc: EU
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Opuntia Galapageia soil? [Re: gopener]
#18749515 - 08/23/13 11:02 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I have opuntia robusta growing in regular cactus soil(what is just compost and sand) with small amount of perlite and rocks on the soil. I have seen opuntia cacti are very suitable to various soil mixes and keep growing. Also it can take high or very low amount of nutrients.
It has got many pads and was over 1meter tall but I give center pad to my friend and plant top of it near the original cactus(need to change pot every year cause top pads starts to grow very tiny cause root growth is impressive fast..)

Fastest rooting cactus I have got.. Pads rooting in one week easily.
I have used similar soil mix but with little bit more rocks where regular plant grow like cannabis(but not as much nitrogen fertilized soil)
Like this cactus cause it's so ornamental.. Has been in greenhouse now 3months and soon need to get it inside cause of I am very far away north and even greenhouse growth time is maximum 4,5months but usually between 3-4months.
Before change of pot my soil mix was very different but this plant seems to grow almost in any soil.
Edited by intelligentlife (08/23/13 11:13 PM)
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islanduniverse


Registered: 02/26/10
Posts: 1,963
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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i recently cut off some ~4" pups from pedro and under 7 days root bumps popped from the bottom near where they were cut
but i am amazed how opuntia are such fast growers, esp when i see them everywhere when i am driving locally
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