Read this article about Prickly Pear Cactus Vs. Christmas Cactus to know what sets them apart and which variety will be your favorite pick.
Although their look is an easy departure to catch which cactus is which . But , to clear up up all small confusions and get to know these plants closely , have a spirit at the major difference between Prickly Pear and Christmas Cactus in detail below !
How to Recognize a Prickly Pear Cactus
The Prickly Pear Cactus is a flat - stemmed spiny cactus from the Opuntia genus and is known for its eatable fruit . you may recognize it by its broad stems , which are cover with briary hairs sleep with as glochids . This cactus efflorescence withyellow flowersbetween May and June , and red fruits will emerge on its 2-dimensional stem from the commencement of July .
Caution : tire out gloves when handling Prickly Pear to nullify getting poked by its bantam glochids !
How to Identify a Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus has flattened stems and is accredit by cerise flowers blooming between November and January . You may stop up befuddle it with the Thanksgiving cactus . However , Christmas cactus has leaves that are n’t as point — rather , they ’re more rounded with a scalloped boundary , kind of like a tear shape .
Difference Between Prickly Pear Cactus and Christmas Cactus
1. Appearance
As mentioned , the Prickly Pear Cactus has flat , boat paddle - like stems covered by flyspeck , hair - alike mordacious spines . The Christmas Cactus also has flatten stem , but these are section and do not have spines . When we liken the two in appearance , you will notice that the Prickly Pear has much broader and slurred stem than its counterpart .
2. Growth Habit
Prickly Pear Cactus grow upright and can reach up to20 feet in pinnacle . This plant also has a significant cattle farm , forming chunk that can spread over 10 feet . On the other paw , the Christmas Cactus has trailing or arc increase , which is why gardener love produce it as a hanging plant life . A mature Christmas cactus can grow one infantry in height and can broadcast up to 2 invertebrate foot on average .
3. Flowering Time
The flowering time of both these plants is something that gear up them apart from each other . Prickly Pear Cactus blooms in late outflow to other summer with big lily-livered , orangish , or red flowers . Christmas Cactus is the winter blunder that grows around the sentence of the Christmas time of year ( November to January ) .
Here is a small tip to encourage more bloom on your Christmas Cactus , place it in a cool , sour blank space for about12 - 14 hour day by day for five to six weeksbefore the holiday season .
4. Temperature and Watering Needs
Prickly Pear Cactus fly high in blistering and waterless climates and you’re able to easily subject it to heat and direct sunlight . The same is not true for Christmas Cactus , as it prefers cool and more humid environments . Unlike Prickly Pear , this one is sore to utmost temperature and prefers indirect light .
Your Prickly Pear Cactus requires minimum watering due to its drought - large-minded type . However , you must be more deliberate with the watering needs of Christmas Cactus specially during its growing time of year , as it needs frequent lachrymation like once in a week or when you feel that soil is getting ironical all .
5. Propagation Method
Prickly Pear Cactus disperse easy through its broad , plane pads . You just have to detach these pads and plant them directly in the soil . On the other hand , Christmas Cactus propagate through stem cuttings . you’re able to cut a section of its root word and allow it to root in a moist potting premix .
