The substance that appears to be cotton fibers is actually a fine wax made by adult cochineal scale insects, and the little black specks may be their nymphs. On cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.) and prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) cactus, it is typical in this region. The white beards that resemble those on other cacti, such as the Peruvian old man (Espostoa lanata) and Peruvian old woman (Espostoa melanostele), are not an insect byproduct but rather typical, healthy changed tissues. Landscape chollas and prickly pears have a white waxy coating produced by cochineal scale that helps shield these actual bugs from predators and insecticides.
I’ve seen prickly pear pads covered in that white fluff almost entirely. Mild infestations, like the ones Doa Ana County Extension Master Gardener Dael Goodman and I saw at in Las Cruces earlier new week, are more typical. In New Mexico, there are multiple native cholla and prickly pear species. There are numerous of them in the Goodmans’ front yard, and we immediately noted that some species were more affected by the cochineal scale than others.
Topical pesticides, especially natural ones like petroleum oils and insecticidal soaps, are unlikely to be effective no matter what time of year it is if the insects are shielded by a white covering. Also, keep in mind that the ultimate goal isn’t to completely eradicate cochineal scale from your garden—partially that’s impossible—but rather to control the populations of insect pests until beneficial insects come to the rescue.
You will be shocked to see a bright red liquid that seems to appear out of nowhere if you squeeze a glob of the white goo that has healthy females hidden inside. Carmine, a natural dye used for millennia to color textiles and create artwork, is produced inside the bodies of cochineal scale insects. Because this carmine component is also utilized in red foods and cosmetics like sausages, lipstick, pie fillings, and vividly colored alcoholic beverages, check product labels for it. Before the firm converted to an artificial dye in 2006, it was used to create the vibrant color of Campari liquor, but a new generation of craft distillers and other producers are increasingly adopting it as a substitute for synthetic red components.
Goodman and I attempted to film the flowing red fluids squeezing the white tufts on her prickly pear pads with a small stick, but we hardly noticed any redness. The female cochineal population may be declining at this time of year, or those specific tufts may be so old that the residents have long since disappeared and have only left that waxy material behind. We’ll give it another go with a fresher sample in the summer.
Six cholla species and seven prickly pear species are covered in Robert DeWitt Ivey’s stunning reference work Flowering Plants of New Mexico. There are five yellow-flowered prickly pears in that group. Identification might be aided by paying close attention to the pad sizes and spine specifics. If you intend to approach closely, make preparations and carry tongs.
At the Agricultural Science Center in Los Lunas, Marisa Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist for New Mexico State University.
What produces from cacti?
For gardeners who don’t want to stop growing because of the winter weather, starting an indoor garden is an easy choice. Producing the same old fruits and veggies inside can get a little boring, yet growing your own lettuce and garlic on your windowsill can still be gratifying.
We have options for you if you want to be a little more experimental. One alternative that can be really tasty is edible cacti and succulents. And the majority of them require little upkeep. We’ve put together a list of five with instructions on how to cultivate them indoors.
Dragon Fruit, Hylocereus undatus.
In case you didn’t know, dragon fruit is a member of the cactus family. This prickly fruit tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear and has a distinct crunch. They go well with smoothies and are also delicious on their own. Dragon fruit grows well in hot, dry climates. Make sure to put yours in a south-facing window or somewhere that receives sunlight for 6 to 8 hours per day. About once a week, water it. Each time you water your soil, it should feel completely dry.
You can either grow this cactus from a seed or a cutting, depending on how long you want to wait until you get fruit that can be harvested. It takes six years to grow from a seed, and one year to grow from a cutting.
Elephant Bush, Portulacaria afra
You can eat the elephant bush, sometimes known as elephant chow, in addition to elephants. Remove the leaves from the stem and mix them in with a salad. They may also be cooked and added to soup. They have a sour flavor and a crunchy texture.
These plants do well in cactus soil, well-draining potting soil, or potting soil that contains 50% sand. Indirect sunlight is preferred by this succulent. A south-facing window is great indoors. It’s vital to remember that this plant can burn its leaves to a crisp and lose them if it receives too much sun. If the tips of the elephant bush begin to turn yellow or red, it has received too much sun. When watering the elephant bush, make sure to direct the water away from the leaves and into the soil. If water is left on top of leaves for an extended period of time, it can rot the leaves.
We advise adopting the soak-and-dry technique, which involves using the soil’s ability to dry out as a cue to water the plant. It’s time for some water if the top inch of soil feels entirely dry.
Prickly Pear, Opuntia ficus-indica
The prickly pear cactus is well renowned for producing sweet, syrupy fruit. The petals, however, are also a delectable snack that may be eaten on its own, in salads, or added to omelettes.
They may be grown in almost any kind of container. It requires at least six hours of daily direct sunshine to grow. The ideal windows are those that face west or south. Additionally, it needs soil that drains effectively because too much moisture in the soil might damage the prickly pear. When the top half to inch of soil in the pot becomes dry, or every ten to fourteen days, water the plants.
This cactus produces fruit more slowly than other species; it can take a young plant three to four years to begin bearing fruit. So take a moment to admire its blossoms.
Glasswort, Salicornia europaea
South African native glasswort, sometimes known as the common man’s asparagus, is a succulent. In broad sun, glasswort grows best. This succulent can remain on your windowsill all day. Make sure it is buried in sandy or well-draining soil. Using saline water will be necessary to care for this plant. Stir in two tablespoons of sea salt for every two cups of water. You need always keep your soil moist, so keep an eye on this plant and make sure you are giving it regular waterings.
Glasswort is edible and goes well with salads when eaten raw. In addition, it can be stir-fried, pickled, or steamed. When the stems are about 5 inches long, they are at their best and ready for harvest.
Purslane, Portulaca oleracea
An annual succulent called purslane is sometimes known as red root or pursley. It has six times as much vitamin E as spinach and seven times as much beta-carotene as carrots. It has been described as one of the most nutrient-dense wild plants by Michael Pollan.
The ideal amount of sun exposure for this low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant is eight hours. It requires well-drained soil and needs watering once a week, or if the top inch or layer of soil dries up. This plant should never receive water to the point where the soil feels moist.
The plant’s leaves can be used in meals just like spinach or microgreens. Their leaves have a peppery flavor and are tart.
Saguaro Flowers
Saguaro flowers are typically found close to the apex of the cactus’ stems and arms. They have a diameter of around 3 inches (8 cm) and are white in hue. They emit a pungent scent, sort of like overripe melons.
Flower pollination
The Mexican long-tongued bat and the lesser long-nosed bat pollinate the blooms at night. Bees and birds like the white-winged dove fertilize the flowers during the day.
Saguaro Fruit
The blossoms develop into brilliant crimson fruit after being fertilized. The fruit splits open to reveal luscious red pulp as it ripens. Up to 2000 tiny black seeds can be found in each berry.
Uses of the fruit
Many desert animals rely on ripe fruit as an excellent source of nutrition and moisture. Finches, woodpeckers, doves, bats, tortoises, javelinas, and coyotes are a few of these creatures. People consume saguaro fruit as well. Since they have inhabited the desert, Tohono O’odham Indians have been gathering the fruit.
Quick Fact
Less than a day is spent in bloom on saguaro flowers. They start operating at night and are open all day the following day. They only have that brief period to entice an animal to pollinate them.
What on my cactus are those fluffy creatures growing?
We apologize, but Mr. Smarty Plants needs some time to catch up after receiving an overwhelming amount of mail. Soon, we hope to be taking new inquiries once more. I’m grateful.
ANSWER:
Before, Mr. Smarty Plants responded to a query regarding cholla cactus cochineal bug management (similar to your prickly pears). What Larry and Brigid Larson wrote is as follows: Cochineal feeding can harm the cactus and occasionally result in the host plant’s death. The Cactus Doctor talks about getting rid of cochineal. Their advice is as follows: 1) A hose with a power nozzle attached to the end. 2) It was advised to clean the affected areas with insecticidal soap or unscented dish soap to treat them if the infestation gets out of hand. Neem oil was also mentioned as a possible natural remedy.
In response to another Mr. Smarty Plants query about cochineal bugs on prickly pear cactus, Nan Hampton provided the following response. (As you can see, this is a common query.) It sounds like cochineal bugs are infesting your cactus (Dactylopius sp.). They are cactus-eating small scale insects. They generate fluffy white wax that covers their body as they consume the cactus and shields them from predators as well as the weather (especially drying out). The fluffy wax also acts as a sail or balloon to carry the bugs to a fresh cactus patch in the breeze. The carminic acid that the bugs create aids in shielding them from predators, particularly ants. Indigenous peoples of southwestern North America, Central America, and subtropical South America have been using this bug’s carminic acid for centuries—possibly millennia—to synthesize a vivid red dye that they utilized to create exquisitely colored fabrics. Cochineal bugs were formerly only found in the New World. The cochineal bug spread around the world when European explorers came to a place and saw the stunning red cloth made by the locals. Although they have also been employed to help reduce cactus populations, the need for cochineal bugs decreased when a synthetic red color was created. But recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in cochineal bug cultivation for red dye because it was discovered that synthetic red dyes can have harmful side effects on health. Today, food coloring and cosmetics both employ the bug-derived dye. Because of this, managing cochineal bugs hasn’t really been a top concern, and as a result, I haven’t been able to discover a lot of information on managing them. If you only have a minor infestation, I advise scraping them off (slowly, to avoid the cactus spines) and throwing them away. They might also come off with a water under pressure wash. To ensure that you don’t harm your cactus, test a tiny area first. Then, collect and get rid of any insects that you wash off the cactus.
The University of Arizona Extension also suggests a similar set of remedies in a publication on cactus diseases.
The usage of insecticides was discussed on multiple websites, and Wikipedia included several natural predators: “The population of the bug on its cacti hosts can be lowered by a variety of natural enemies. Insects appear to be the most significant group of predators. Numerous parasitic wasps as well as predatory insects including ladybugs (Coleoptera), different Diptera (like Syrphidae and Chamaemyiidae), lacewings (Neuroptera), and ants (order Hymenoptera) as well as pyralid moths (order Lepidoptera), which kill cacti, have all been identified.”
Here is more information on the intriguing world of the Dactylopius coccus cochineal scale insect and the carmine dye that was highly sought for fabric dyeing in the 15th century.