How Does a Cactus Reproduce? :- Discover the process by which cacti multiply and the methods by which gardeners can propagate a cactus from cuttings in order to obtain additional free plants. Are you ever curious about the process by which cacti reproduce? All right, perhaps not. However, cacti, like many other succulents, procreate through the use of either cuttings or seeds.
How Does a Cactus Reproduce?Â
It may be hard to believe, but cacti are not only found in the arid and desert regions of the United States. This particular specimen, which I captured in the upstate region of New York, may be found growing throughout the majority of states.
Cacti typically reproduce in the wild by releasing segments or pads from the parent cactus and rooting themselves in the ground where they come into contact with it. As shown above, the circular pad was derived from a Purple Prickly Pear, also known as Opuntia bigelovii.
Animals that brush against cacti can also cause a bit of the cactus to detach and attach itself to the animal’s fur, which is another method by which cacti reproduce. It eventually falls off, a considerable distance away from the plant that it was attached to.
Until there is sufficient rainfall for them to root into the soil, pieces of cactus can survive for months without water. One example of this is this fragment of the Teddy Bear Cholla, which is part of the Opuntia bigelovii species.
It is not uncommon to come across groups of younger cacti that have established themselves around the parent cactus as a result of the segments falling and establishing themselves, such as the Teddy Bear Cholla, which is depicted in the image above. Although they may appear fluffy and soft, much like a teddy bear, it is important to remember that appearances may be quite misleading, as seen by the fact that many people have reached out to touch one.
How to Propagate Cactus Plants From Cuttings
You can plant cacti into pads or segments and then observe their growth over time. The process of taking cuttings from a single cactus and planting them in a pad is a simple and straightforward method. The process of spreading cacti in this manner is simple; nevertheless, there are a few essential procedures that must be followed:
Propagation of cacti should take place during the warm season, when the risk of frost has passed. The joint at which the segment is attached to the parent plant is where the cut should be made. When dealing with prickly pear cacti, it is possible to cut a segment that is composed of one to three pads.
In order to prevent the cacti from rotting when it is replanted, it is important to allow the cut site to “callus” for a period of two weeks after the new cutting has been placed in a dry and shaded location. It is best to plant your new cactus in full sun with soil that drains well. Take a month off from watering after sowing the seeds. After that, water thoroughly once a month till fall.
During the first summer, provide shade that is just temporary. You are able to accomplish this by either using shade cloth or by placing a plastic patio chair on top of things. New growth will start to appear on your cactus in a short amount of time.
In addition, propagating cacti can be useful in situations where your preferred cactus has grown to be too huge or has become overgrown. One or two of the cactus segments should be cut off before it is removed, and then the processes outlined above should be followed to replant them in the same location. I was able to accomplish this by utilizing some of my preferred species like Cholla and Prickly Pear, and the results were fantastic.
