How are you watering and how do you determine when to water?

tj

I water once a every few weeks in the fall/winter and once ever week and a half in the summer. I use tap water and I usually first see if my soil is super dry before I water. because I am afraid of an over watering issue.

More interested in the new growth also getting these brown spots. Other wise that on the older pad could be corking. A natural hardening or turning to wood the skin of the plant. That should not be happening to any new growth.

What’s in the last two pics is normal or at least I see the same on my Opuntia. As Stush has said it’s corking. I believe it’s the beginning stages of corking.

My Opuntia below has it all over the lower pads. What will happen is the circles will get bigger and then connect. Some of the dots are old wounds from being stabbed by other cactus.

The top pic is the weird one. It possibly could be fungus. You could do one of three things, cut the little area out with a clean sharp knife, take the pad off, or leave it be and watch it because the cactus may just scab over. I would personally do the latter. I find Opuntia to be tougher than other cactus, just keep an eye on it and keep the cactus’ surrounding environment dry.

Since it’s the cooler seasons your Opuntia should be kept dry, no water till Spring🙂.

Edit: I thought of a fourth option, you could spray with a fungicide, but imo I would wait. As long as the environment is warm and dry the cactus should heal the wound. It will always have a scab in that area tho.

ok. thank you!