Prickly Pear Opuntia with Cactus Expert Tom Jesch

[@christinahenkel4850]

He's the best storyteller. I was right there with him like "but we need that red flower!" 😢❤ I love this man's passion for his cactus 🌵

[@CactusCaffeine]

Very interesting! Tom Jesch is a very passionate man about his hobby. Very inspiring how he turned his hobby into a career that makes him now a legend in the industry. 🙂👍🏼

[@SteakCutFries]

I love listening to anyone who speaks with so much genuine enthusiasm and passion about something; i don't even care what the topic is, just the energy and the light emanating from someone but since this is about cacti, I'm ALL IN ✨🌵🤑

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

I live in Vermont. Just received my Opuntia Goldie Rita and hoping I get it to grow roots so next summer when I move my plants back outside it will blossom for me. Love Mountain Crest Gardens.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Aw thank you so much! Enjoy that Opuntia!

[@JabberGulch]

​@@Mountaincrestgardenshello I have the pina colada prickly pear variety and I'm curious if it can self pollinate? ❤

[@bethmulligan2588]

This was extremely interesting...I just moved up to Sandy Pond,NY on Lake Ontario (Tughill Plateau of Adirondacks) from Key Largo & was stunned to see Paddle cactus in garden of Apt I was moving in to. It had snow over it & I pulled a few pads off thinking I was rescuing it...but...was simply amazed to see the plant come back to life after the spring thaw...so now I've got the daughter pieces in my pot...& my Daughter in law has some of it in her garden as well. I'm jumping over to order some Porcupine, Pina colada & Pina Rita(?) Cacti now

[@SteakCutFries]

"The pinup from the Plough Boy magazine" 😝🌵🥵 I am lovvvvvvving this guy and his obvious passion

[@margaretfifer6673]

Another great video. I live in Michigan. I grow them. Love the flowers.

[@pennylane9155]

Thanks you Annie for this interesting video on Tom's story with his life long passion with cactus.

[@IAmHumanJake]

I never new, this makes me so happy.

[@ianshepherd6336]

Another interesting view with some historic and informative depth…

[@markdale278]

Still passionate after all these years

[@emilyconyngham9277]

What a great story!

[@ZiggySearchfieldCactus]

Excellent video 😎 Would love to visit but it's a long way from here 😯😯🌵🌵🙂🙂

[@robertlopezdecastilla6509]

When propagating prickly pear cactus can you start with a pad that already has 3 to 4 pads attached? Will the root system be able to support a cutting like this?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Yes, but you'd want to use sticks or boulders to prop up an extra tall prickly pear cutting, so that it has a stable, unmoving base while it's establishing roots.

[@robertlopezdecastilla6509]

@@Mountaincrestgardens Thanks so much!

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

@@robertlopezdecastilla6509 you're so welcome!

[@anitacunico1349]

Do you have any remedies for imbedded prickly pears in skin?

[@glendaleclone6388]

Awesome informative video

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Glad you think so!

[@jorgecanales798]

So interesting. Tom just inspired me to start my own cactus selling business. I am very passionate about cacti and everytime I'm near an opuntia, i always want to take some pads. I've been owning pricky pear cacti for almost 2 years and i i have about 7 different varieties of them now. I'm always propagating and i just can't wait for them to flower so i can hybrize

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

That's wonderful! Enjoy hybridizing!

[@flowerflower4587]

What state can I grow them in. Can I grow them in southern carolina. I love cactus of any kind

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You can! This Opuntia Prickly Pear are frost hardy to at least 10F (zone 8): mountaincrestgardens.com/prickly-pear-cactus-opuntia/?_bc_fsnf=1&Cold+Hardiness%5B%5D=Zone+8+%2810F%29&Cold+Hardiness%5B%5D=Zone+6+%28-10F%29&Cold+Hardiness%5B%5D=Zone+5+%28-20F%29

[@karaneihouse624]

I live in Arkansas but saw a prickly pear growing on the side of a sand dune!

[@kmc6506]

There are 2 species of prickly pear in Arkansas. We have hundreds of Opuntia humifusa in fields and pastures by my house in central Arkansas, and I often see Opuntia macrorhiza in the Buffalo River area.

[@IAmHumanJake]

Is all cactus mentioned be able to grow in zone 5

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Yes!

[@IAmHumanJake]

I've been obsessed with the cold Hardy succulents

[@juhgfdsapiyhhnnxc3517]

I love you passion

[@danieledalmonte7560]

Thanks, now i know tho origin of baby rita! :-)

[@shilohjesch6386]

Way to go Poppa! Great video. You forgot to mention who was with you on that "secret" journey in that "secret" location. Soooo much fun searching for your red opuntia

[@quique888]

would those grow out here close to chicago

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Yes, look for Opuntia hardy to at least zone 5 or 6, depending on where you live.

[@jengerman1125]

WHAT a delightful video! Thank you for sharing this story! I’ll take 10, please🤗. Will these be happy in southwest Ohio?

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Thank you, and yes! A lot of Opuntia cultivars are happy down to -10F and the extra frost hardy species can go down to -20F.

[@SteakCutFries]

I'm on tbe East Coast in the city of Philadelphia, I'm wondering if these cactus that he's talking about being hardy still in Oregon and Wash. I wonder if I'd be able to plant them out here, we get some snow but usually not too too much but we def get freezing temps. I have a small front yard (in the city) wondering if I could do a container or something

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

You can! It looks like the minimum temperature in Philadelphia is about 0F, and many species of Opuntia are hardy down to -20F. Just be sure to check the hardiness rating, as there are some frost tender cultivars out there. Annie

[@TheBodynsoul1]

New mexico 😉👍🏽

[@00Hendrik00]

Now I want a Baby Rita Cactus just because I like this man.

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Right?! Tom's the tops

[@LostInThisGardenofLife]

He’s a hoot! 🤣🤣🤣

[@annieschreck7938]

Isn't he great?!

[@shilohjesch6386]

@@annieschreck7938 he's the best...and the best dad too

[@sedumzz3289]

Great video!!! the first time i saw an opuntia I KNEW they had glotchids. It was on a beach and there was a prickly pear. This was what was happening in my brain: Thought 1: Wow, so cool! Thought 2: I shouldn't touch it! Thought 3: I WANT TO TOUCH IT Thought 4: No, there are glotchids! Thought 5: But I want to touch it... *Touches prickly pear spine* *Gets glotchid on finger and winces in pain

[@annieschreck7938]

Ahah well you're in good company. Seems like a succulent rite of passage.

[@benalfaro3332]

Did he say Santa Ana?

[@ravensdotter6843]

Which spp. can I grow in northern Maine?

[@annieschreck7938]

Word is Opuntia humifusa and O. fragilis are the hardiest species and can survive in zones 3 and 4

[@ravensdotter6843]

@@annieschreck7938 do you guys carry those??

[@annieschreck7938]

@@ravensdotter6843 I'm afraid not. I believe all of our varieties are hardy to -20F

[@royalmazeda]

How i get it.i am from bangladesh

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

Sorry, we cannot ship outside of the US

[@beverlydeardurff5366]

The paddles of the Pickly Pear catus are edible.

[@birdnird]

The fruit as well

[@morrisparkintheozarks6831]

I've got a question, I live here in the Ozarks. We have opuntia humifusa as our native cactus. I also have opuntia macrohiza , an un named hybrid that blooms orange flowers, cylindropuntia imbricata and thanks to Ana of Cactus Caffeine a Pina colada!! Which is planted with sempervivums as was mentioned. Ok here is my question, it can get to 12° below here ,like Thursday we will be in the single digits. And are expecting 6-12 inches of snow. I have a baby Rita in the greenhouse, how cold will baby Rita take? Can I plant it out side? If you would like to see my outdoor opuntias, check out my channel! I have a couple of videos from last year of them covered in ice and snow. From Morris Park in the Ozarks, have a wonderful evening!!! Peace, Love, Plants!!!✌💖🌵🏵🌴🌺🪴🌹🌲🌷🌳😃👍

[@Mountaincrestgardens]

I've always seen Baby Rita listed as having a min. temp. tolerance of 0F. BUT I haven't tested it at lower temperatures, and it depends on how long they'll stay that cold, and how dry they are, and if you can cover them with row cover like Reemay fabric. I'd recommend reaching out to Waterwise Botanicals, as they have the most experience with Baby Rita: www.waterwisebotanicals.com/Contact Annie

[@morrisparkintheozarks6831]

@@Mountaincrestgardens Thanks Annie!! Will do!