That looks like a very well established, happy, and wooding specimen. Is there any indication that it NEEDS repotting?
The process itself will be difficult, and it may include destruction of the planter to avoid significant root damage.
My main concern would be what you do after getting it out. The roots, I assume, are growing longways down the narrow planting box, and the root ball isn’t going to be any sort of shape that can be easily replanted.
So you can manipulate the root ball to try and get it to fit into a more traditional pot, cut off whatever doesn’t fit into the pot you want to use, or find a long rectangular planter that is a larger size and can accommodate your unique root ball shape.
If you consider your options and still want to repot, let me know how it goes! I’d probably take a hose and gently wash off the roots to loosen your soil and make the root ball easier to work with. Just note that messing with the roots can make your plant sad for a while.
I would also wait until after your plant is done fruiting and blooming. These activities take a TON of energy, and you want your cactus to be in the best position to dedicate energy to re-establishing itself after re-potting.
Proud-Ad-146
Ooof I just got goals now hahaha – mine are getting bigger but have yet to flower like that 😍
xiotoro
I love seeing a mature version of this Opuntia species, I have one that’s like 1.5 feet tall that I’m loving it’s grown. It looks gorgeous with those little flowers
Stoney_Tony_88
You could just cut it, and let it root from the bottom stump. It would probably take over a year to recover though, andbit would lose a bunch of pads.
A_Snuffle
It’s beautiful, leave it be!
AgintOringe
Prayer
hergen20
I have a Brasiliopuntia and love it. They grow so quickly that with just a cutting you can have another cactus that size is 18 months. I have had to. Move mine a couple of times. Each time I used a cutting.
The one I have now is about 6 meters tall and I am afraid of getting neer it. Hopefully keeping its roots confined will help slow the growth. Regardless, they get top heavy and could use trimming to control growth.
madknatter
It would seem to spend all year outside, and looks quite healthy, so I would see about selling or giving away cuttings from time to time before attempting a repot. If you do, consider a 5-gallon pot.
swirlybat
you took a picture of a happy, healthy, thriving cactus and decided it was none of those things?
madknatter
How is the fruit?
AdFun9444
Carefully it’s beautiful I’ve only seen prickly pear trees in black and white pictures
Clontarf1
Hi OP, your profile seems to indicate that you live in Australia. Probably NSW.
What you have here is a drooping tree pear/smooth tree pear (Opuntia monacantha). These are highly invasive in NSW and are not legal to trade or propagate.
You have a “general biosecurity duty” to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise any biosecurity risks present. Keeping as an ornamental is not considered reasonable and practical measures to reduce risk.
What that means, in short, is legally you need to kill it. Potting it is likely considered an offence in NSW (and all other states too).
Wiley_Jack
I’d probably prop the plant up with struts or secure it to the wall, knock the existing wooden planter apart, then build a larger planter around it. Backfill with soil.
drezdogge
It repots you
ChelseaManchester
It’s beautiful!!
crazy8cook
You don’t…
Deathed_Potato
You will need to remove everything from the planter. If it has an open bottom I would not remove as its roots have escaped. Mature cacti this size have some good sized roots.
20 Comments
Haha you don’t!
Is there a specific reason you want to repot?
That looks like a very well established, happy, and wooding specimen. Is there any indication that it NEEDS repotting?
The process itself will be difficult, and it may include destruction of the planter to avoid significant root damage.
My main concern would be what you do after getting it out. The roots, I assume, are growing longways down the narrow planting box, and the root ball isn’t going to be any sort of shape that can be easily replanted.
So you can manipulate the root ball to try and get it to fit into a more traditional pot, cut off whatever doesn’t fit into the pot you want to use, or find a long rectangular planter that is a larger size and can accommodate your unique root ball shape.
If you consider your options and still want to repot, let me know how it goes! I’d probably take a hose and gently wash off the roots to loosen your soil and make the root ball easier to work with. Just note that messing with the roots can make your plant sad for a while.
I would also wait until after your plant is done fruiting and blooming. These activities take a TON of energy, and you want your cactus to be in the best position to dedicate energy to re-establishing itself after re-potting.
Ooof I just got goals now hahaha – mine are getting bigger but have yet to flower like that 😍
I love seeing a mature version of this Opuntia species, I have one that’s like 1.5 feet tall that I’m loving it’s grown. It looks gorgeous with those little flowers
You could just cut it, and let it root from the bottom stump. It would probably take over a year to recover though, andbit would lose a bunch of pads.
It’s beautiful, leave it be!
Prayer
I have a Brasiliopuntia and love it. They grow so quickly that with just a cutting you can have another cactus that size is 18 months. I have had to. Move mine a couple of times. Each time I used a cutting.
The one I have now is about 6 meters tall and I am afraid of getting neer it. Hopefully keeping its roots confined will help slow the growth. Regardless, they get top heavy and could use trimming to control growth.
It would seem to spend all year outside, and looks quite healthy, so I would see about selling or giving away cuttings from time to time before attempting a repot. If you do, consider a 5-gallon pot.
you took a picture of a happy, healthy, thriving cactus and decided it was none of those things?
How is the fruit?
Carefully it’s beautiful I’ve only seen prickly pear trees in black and white pictures
Hi OP, your profile seems to indicate that you live in Australia. Probably NSW.
What you have here is a drooping tree pear/smooth tree pear (Opuntia monacantha). These are highly invasive in NSW and are not legal to trade or propagate.
You have a “general biosecurity duty” to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise any biosecurity risks present. Keeping as an ornamental is not considered reasonable and practical measures to reduce risk.
What that means, in short, is legally you need to kill it. Potting it is likely considered an offence in NSW (and all other states too).
I’d probably prop the plant up with struts or secure it to the wall, knock the existing wooden planter apart, then build a larger planter around it. Backfill with soil.
It repots you
It’s beautiful!!
You don’t…
You will need to remove everything from the planter. If it has an open bottom I would not remove as its roots have escaped. Mature cacti this size have some good sized roots.
https://preview.redd.it/wdi04szevpyf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=baa40fba7d3698efb73fb76ef2f70ed894acb772
I have the same!