Care of a Nopal Cactus Plant

Planting

• Plant nopal cactus during the spring in a location that receives full sunlight and has well-drained, fertile soil. Dig a hole in the soil three times as wide and of equal depth as the container in which the cactus was grown. Place the cactus in the hole and gently cover the roots with soil. Water immediately after planting to compact the soil and encourage new growth. Space plants at least 3 feet apart to allow room for growth. Space them even farther apart if you desire larger plants, as each nopal cactus plant can reach up to 8 feet in width.

Watering

• Water nopal cactus plants once a week during the first month of growth. Reduce the frequency of watering to once every two weeks during summer and once a month during winter. This will allow the soil to dry thoroughly between applications and will prevent potential root rot from developing. Always avoid overwatering, and don't provide supplemental watering on weeks of significant rainfall.

Fertilizing

• Feed nopal cactus plants a high-nitrogen 15-10-10 NPK fertilizer to increase the growth of the edible pads, or a low-nitrogen 0-10-10 NPK fertilizer to encourage the growth of flowers. Apply the fertilizer once a month according to the directions on the package. Water thoroughly before and after fertilizing to avoid burning the plant's roots.

Pruning

• Prune away any damaged, diseased or unwanted pads during midsummer. Use pruning shears or a sharp knife to cut them off at the joint where the pads meet, as severed pads are extremely susceptible to diseases. Remove flowers as they fade and die to encourage the growth of new flowers and to prevent them from forming fruit. If the fruit is desired, the flowers can be left to grow naturally. Always wear gloves while handling the nopal cactus plant to prevent injury from the needles.