Leafy › Plant care › Loose prickly-pear
Loose prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis) Care Guide
Care guide for Loose prickly-pear: light, watering, humidity, soil and temperature, based on the species' botanical profile.
📷 Thayne Tuason · CC BY 4.0 · GBIF/iNaturalist
✅ Loose prickly-pear is generally pet-safe — details.
Care at a glance
LightPlenty of light; some direct sun is tolerated.
WaterWater roughly every 10 days, let the top 2-3 cm of soil dry out between waterings.
HumidityModerate to high humidity (30-60%).
TemperatureTemperate: 12-24 °C (54-75 °F).
SoilWell-draining mix, slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5-7.0).
Growthmoderate growth. Mature height ~0.9 m (3.0 ft).
Origin
Native to: Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho.
Growing Loose prickly-pear at home?
With Leafy, snap your plants for instant ID, personalized care reminders and pet-toxicity alerts. Free.
📷 Download Leafy free →Reference guidance based on the species' botanical profile; adjust to your home conditions.