Cactus Propagation
The Pencil Cholla (Opuntia ramosissima) grows two to five feet high, generally in loose gravel or rock crevices. Look for slender woody joints marked with diamond, heart-shaped or quadrilateral designs. Roots lie close to the soil surface to more readily absorb moisture.
Because their seeds are sterile, Pencil cholla propagate only when stems drop to the ground and take root. Wood rats often carry off segments and, when dropped, the stems grow where discarded.
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