Germination of
Opuntia santarita
Prickly Pear Cactus "Santa Rita": Santa Rita prickly pear, Purple prickly pear
Opuntia seeds have hard outer shells that require scarification to enhance germination. Start by soaking the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Next, fill a pot with well-draining soil mix, and scatter the seeds on the surface. Press the seeds gently into the soil and cover with a thin layer of sand or grit. Water the soil lightly, and place the pot in a warm, sunny location. Keep the soil slightly moist and maintain a temperature of around 70-85�F. Germination should occur in 2-4 weeks. Once the seedlings have emerged, provide bright sunlight and reduce watering frequency to promote root development.
Some of plants may have very have specific germination requirements that may not be covered in these general instructions.
Many seeds require pre-treatment before sowing which we try to list here when we can, but this information may not be present here. Germination times and germination temperatures are to be a guide only. Many factors can DRASTICALLY affect this.
It's always a good idea to research the specific germination requirements from multiple sources for each plant before attempting to grow them from seed.