cacti in compost

[creister]

Has anyone ever put cactus in their compost pile? I have to tear out a large cactus, and am wondering if I should put it in my compost pile. Pear type cactus, but minimal thorns.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by creister

Has anyone ever put cactus in their compost pile? I have to tear out a large cactus, and am wondering if I should put it in my compost pile. Pear type cactus, but minimal thorns.

I never have, but I don't see any reason why you shouldn't compost it. Everything decays eventually and I see no reason why cactus should be an exception.

[Worth1]

I never have but I could see an instant cactus garden in your future.

Better bury them deep.

Worth

[creister]

Upon that suspicion, they went to the city landfill.

[emma818436]

The city landfill will probably have cactus growing there

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by emma818436

The city landfill will probably have cactus growing there

The city landfill probably already has cactus growing there.

Worth

[mensplace]

Funny to me because I went out the other day and bought nopal cactus "paddles"/leaves to plant for harvesting the leaves for nopalitos, and the seed pods which we call cactus pears.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by mensplace

Funny to me because I went out the other day and bought nopal cactus "paddles"/leaves to plant for harvesting the leaves for nopalitos, and the seed pods which we call cactus pears.

I could show you thousands of acres of cacti you purchased.
The seed pod or what we call pear is called the tuna in Mexico.

So if you are in a Mexican restaurant and order what you think may be tuna as you know it dont be surprised if a cactus pear shows up on your plate.
I remember a time when I worked in a granite quarry I was so poor I would supplement my lunch with the pear from the many cacti growing in the area.

Worth

[mensplace]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I could show you thousands of acres of cacti you purchased.
The seed pod or what we call pear is called the tuna in Mexico.

So if you are in a Mexican restaurant and order what you think may be tuna as you know it dont be surprised if a cactus pear shows up on your plate.
I remember a time when I worked in a granite quarry I was so poor I would supplement my lunch with the pear from the many cacti growing in the area.

Worth

Yesterday I enjoyed two tacos made with the authentic masa and filled with nopalitos and a bit of beef with lime juice and smoked chile sauce. DELICIOUS. Nothing could be easier than skinning off the tiny spots of barbs and then roasting them either over an outdoor grill or on a griddle. Even pickled they are great. I think I paid a whole dollar for six leaves and buried them vertically an inch deep.

[MrBig46]

Mensplace,
I'd take him, but I do not know how to get him to Czech.
Vladimír

[Worth1]

You dont want one of these things they double or triple in size every year.
One pad puts out 2 or 3 pads the next year those new pads put out 2 or 3 of their own.
They aren't like your friendly cacti.
They are mean and will not only stick you with big thorns but many millions of little ones you cant get out.
Last year I slapped my hand against one by mistake.
The year before that I was attacked by my jumping cactus.
My dog and cat are scared to death of them.
Why do I love my cacti.

Worth

[mensplace]

Thanks for the sanity check! I had NO idea. I had envisioned them as cute little things of a couple of feet tall. Fortunately, I can still cook them.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by mensplace

Thanks for the sanity check! I had NO idea. I had envisioned them as cute little things of a couple of feet tall. Fortunately, I can still cook them.

That is one way to keep them in check.
If you run over them with a lawnmower all you do is spread them out.
They will lay on top of the ground and take root.

I have seen vast fields of them bulldozed up into a pile and burned only to have more come up soon after.

Fires floods freezes drought and neglect seem to be what they thrive on.

If I could make them bow to my will I could rule the world.

Here is one of my armies now lined up and ready to cross over into Mexico.

It is the 5th Prickly regiment out of central Texas.


They will be fighting the great agave armies of senora.




They dont stand a chance.

worth

[Skaggydog]

I always compost with cactus and I always read that the needles will not compost but stick you later and that little cactus plants will sprout up all over your garden. I've used it for over 30 years and have found that nether is true if you compost to prevent it. Cactus makes up 10-20% or more of my compost piles and I believe that using it is the greatest thing I've done for my compost production. Why? I live in a very dry area and it is like free water and plant material for my compost. Cactus gives me more compost without me doing anything but harvesting it and supplies all of the water that the compost pile needs to work quickly. I shred everything that goes into my compost piles. Through the shredder goes a scoop of dry stuff, a scoop of green, a scoop of kitchen wastes another scoop of dry stuff, a scoop of cactus a scoop of manure, repeat many times, wait a few weeks then turn. Never needs water because of the cactus. Bliss

[MrBig46]

Originally Posted by Worth1

You dont want one of these things they double or triple in size every year.
One pad puts out 2 or 3 pads the next year those new pads put out 2 or 3 of their own.
They aren't like your friendly cacti.
They are mean and will not only stick you with big thorns but many millions of little ones you cant get out.
Last year I slapped my hand against one by mistake.
The year before that I was attacked by my jumping cactus.
My dog and cat are scared to death of them.
Why do I love my cacti.

Worth

Worth, I know what thorns has Opuntia. When I was younger , i planted opuntias in the green house of my paerents. Every spring, when I was betting them, I had a full hand of small spines (glochids). Once my two year old son fell off his hands on prickly pear. The son does not remember it today, but my wife not forgot. She not like cacti, since then. And I am not planting them.
Vladimír