Image - Wikimedia / Juan Ignacio 1976
The opuntia cactus, which is popularly known as Mickey ears or angel wings, is a surprisingly easy succulent to grow since it not only resists drought well, but also reproduces very well by cuttings.
Of course, you have to choose the most suitable moment to do it, since otherwise it would be a waste of time. So if you would like to have new specimens of your plant, discover how to reproduce the opuntia cactus or Mickey ears.
When can Mickey's ears cactus be reproduced?
Image - Wikimedia / Frank Vincentz
It is a cactus endemic to Mexico that grows when temperatures are high (but not extreme). To be more exact, It likes temperatures that are between 15º and 35ºC; if they are lower, their growth rate slows down until it comes to a halt in winter, and if they are higher, it will be the heat and the vital need to avoid water loss that will stop it.
This is very important to take into account when reproducing it, since it will help us to choose the moment to get down to work. But yes, it is not enough to decide the season of the year, but also to see how healthy our plant is. In this sense, you have to know that in principle only if it is completely healthy it will be able to multiply, but there are a couple of exceptions, which are:
- Cacti that are very, very diseased and/or soft from being overwatered. If they have some parts that are still healthy, they can be cut to try to save them.
- If they are etiolated cacti, that is to say, that due to the lack of light they have bent, wanting to grow towards a more powerful light, they can also be cut.
How does the opuntia cactus reproduce easily and quickly?
The opuntia, all of them, bloom; our protagonist, the Opuntia microdasysOf course it does too. But even though it produces seeds, sowing these is not the fastest way to get new specimens of angel-wing cacti, but multiplying it by 'leaf' cuttings or pencas that Latin Americans say.
But first of all, it is very, very important to protect your hands. This plant has very short thorns that dig into the skin with a simple touch, so this should be avoided as much as possible. For this reason, you should put on gardening gloves, or better work gloves if they are thick. And yes, of course, it is not enough to put on gloves, the cactus must also be handled with caution.
Once you have your hands protected, you must follow this step by step:
cut the sheet
The first step is cut the leaf or stalk that interests you with anvil scissors (you can buy it here). First of all, clean these scissors with soap and water to prevent the cactus from getting sick. Then, make the cut through the part that joins the rest of the plant. It has to be a clean cut so that healing is as fast as possible.
Let the wound dry for a while
Now that you have the sheet, you should leave it in a protected and dry place for about 5 to 7 days. Thus, the wound will dry up, and it will not be difficult for it to put down its own roots. If you planted it now, you would run the risk of it rotting; so it is better to have a little patience.
plant your leaf
You have to do it in a pot with holes in its base that is big enough for the leaf to fit well, and also you have to fill it with substrate for cactus, or with peat and perlite mixed in equal parts. As for the leaf, it must be a little - I insist, just a little bit - lying down, with the part that was attached to the rest of the plant buried so that the roots can grow.
Water
You can water just before planting the cutting, or once planted. If you choose to do it afterwards, it is highly recommended that you use a sprayer so that the leaf does not move.
How to care for Mickey ears cactus leaf cutting?
You already have your cactus in the pot, now what? Well then now is the time to place it in a place where there is a lot of light, but not direct sun. It would also be good to put it indoors - not necessarily indoors; It can be in the patio or terrace for example- especially if it rains frequently, since it is important to avoid that the earth always remains wet.
Speaking of water, and to be more specific, irrigation, very little should be watered. In fact, we will only do it in the event that the substrate is dry. In this way, we will certainly be able to get root soon. When exactly? Well, if all goes well, in about fifteen days we would have a new opuntia. Now, we will leave it in that pot until it finishes rooting it.
What do you think of this way of reproducing Mickey's ears cactus?