Question
First, THANK YOU SO MUCH!  RE: PRICKLY PEARS.  I live in SW Florida (Englewood, near Venice)where we have a dry winter that is high 60's/low 40's.  Summer it rains every day for about 1/2-1 hour and is high mid-90's/low 70's and quite humid.  We have wild PRICKLY PEARS in our yard.  They are much too large to move the whole plant, but I'd like to know how I can propagate or take a section off and replant it in an area that I'm making into a cactus garden.   

1. How do I remove the "parts", and can I remove more than just one oval "leaf" to be able to start with a bigger replanted cactus?  

2. Also, what type of soil matter should I buy?Even though they grow wild in the very sandy soil, I just feel like I should make an effort to give them a great start in really great soil so they grow back after I replant them.

3.  How often should I water them???  

4.  What the heck is the difference between cactus & succulents in caring for them?  Would I want to have both in my cactus garden?

5.  Can you please suggest some other cactii or succulents that might do well here?

THANK YOU SO MUCH !   I've been dying to ask someone these questions!  :)   ~ Nancy  

Answer
Nancy,

1. Yes, you can remove more than 1 leaf. I reccommend that you use the scissor type cooking tongs to remove them or roll up newspaper very thick and grab them with that. Then just lay them out of the rain and let the wounds dry for at least 3-4 days so the wounds "heal". Then bury the wounded end in your prepared soil. Be sure to keep the same orientation as they had before.  Same end up.

2. Plain Florida sand is fine but if you really want to you can buy a bag of topsoil and mix it with the sand. No more than that. You want it mostly sandy.  Cacti grows naturallly in the kind of soil it prefers.

3. During the summer let the rain do it. During the dry winter water once a week but don't ddrown them.  Overwatering kills more cacti than any other problem. Fertilize once or twice a year with miracle grow type fertilizer.

4. There is no difference in care. Cacti have stickers, succulents do not. I would like both in my cactus garden.

5. Century plants do well, many varieties of Aloe, just about any cacti or succulents do well in the ground in FL. Go to some local nurseries and see what they have to offer.

I love both cacti and succulets. The more unusual the better. Good luck.
                                    Darlene
Here's a website you can check out:
http://www.bobsmoleys.com/