BAD OPUNTIA PAD!

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:09 pm

Here is a pic of the pad I was speaking of in the other thread. You would have thought that this one was ready for the bonfire, but it produced a really nice offset:

Bill in SC

PinkNailPolish · Post by **PinkNailPolish** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:55 pm

lol. Seeing that, it makes me feel a bit more confident I'll be able to grow the one I have.

Did you use any type of rooting powder or something?

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:00 pm

I NEVER use rooting hormone. Just an unnecessary expense. You can lay one of these pads on a newspaper in the shade, and roots will sprout the entire length of the pad! I found that out last summer when I got busy and left some pads like that for about three months. However, that's not the correct way to do it. Put 1/3 of the pad in the soil and you're good to go...
Bill in SC

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:38 am

Heres a picture of some Opuntia I left lying around. You can see where roots have started growing from the aeroles.

Bottom line, don't under estimate what an opuntia pad is capable of doing.

Post by **daiv** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:29 am

ihc6480 wrote: Bottom line, don't under estimate what an opuntia pad is capable of doing.

Indeed!

PinkNailPolish · Post by **PinkNailPolish** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:26 am

I'm glad you said the roots grow from the aeroles. I figured people planted them a third in the dirt as to stand them up, but now I know it's for maximum root surface.

Spikey1007 · Post by **Spikey1007** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:13 pm

Bill what opuntia is that? I think i may have that type i tryed to get it id'd but the blasted digicam was not designed for close ups.

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:56 pm

I think it is O engelmanniani v linguiformis.. (cow's tongue)
Bill in SC

DieTer-Xz · Post by **DieTer-Xz** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:28 am

After seeing this, I won't throw away any (seemly)dead Opuntia parts...

comike · Post by **comike** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:53 pm

You must be real proud of that one Bill.

I had a little junkpile of pads and pieces from last year & recently noticed they had roots (and sprouts in some cases!)

I'd never give up on the opuntia's I planted two beavertail pads: one of them was all shriveled up (close to your pic.) & it sprouted before the other, green pad!

take care, Mike (native South Carolinian)

BAD OPUNTIA PAD!

BAD OPUNTIA PAD!

wow!