How to Propagate Your Own Prickly Pear or Cholla Cactus

Certain cactus species are easy to grow from broken pieces or cuttings. Cactus that are the easiest to propagate in this manner are prickly pear and cholla. The trick is not planting right after taking cuttings.

The best time to root cactus parts is when night time temperatures are above 50 degrees, so keep this in mind before you start.

Step One

To begin, cut prickly pear pads or cholla stems at a joint (node) using loppers or a pruning saw. It is a good idea to wear leather gloves to prevent getting thorns in your hands. Use barbeque tongs to handle the cut pieces.

Place the pads or stems on the ground in filtered shade, such as underneath a tree, for two weeks to let the wound heal over. This will prevent the cutting from rotting in the ground before it has a chance to root.

Step Two

Using 1 gallon planting containers or pots, fill about two thirds full of native soil. Using barbeque tongs, place the cactus piece in the container and add enough soil to cover the bottom of the plant part 1/4 to 1/3 deep. Do not water. Place containers back in filtered shade for two weeks. After two weeks, water well. Move the containers into full sun. Do not water again until the parts are growing new pads or buds. This takes about four to six weeks.

Step Three

Let the cactus grow in containers until they have several new pads or stems. You can leave them in containers up to a year. Cactus are best transplanted into the ground during the spring and summer.

To plant, dig a hole wider than the container and no deeper than the depth of the rootball. Using leather gloves and a thick layer of newspaper to protect your hands, turn the cactus out of the container onto the paper in your hand and place the plant in the hole. Backfill with native soil, and tamp using a stick or shovel handle so you do not get stuck by the thorns. Water well.

Step Four

Water a twice a month in cool weather, and once a week in hot weather for a year. After that, it is usually not necessary to water again.