As a desert cactus, prickly pears require maximum sunlight to thrive and should be kept in direct sunlight whenever possible. A west- or south-facing picture window works best.

very little water is required to maintain them, so limit your watering to every two to three weeks or when the well-drained soil is completely dry. Since cactus thrives in hot, dry desert summers, replicating hot temperatures is best.

hot temperatures is best. a cactus widely cultivated for fruits and forage/fodder, has shoots composed of flattened stem segments (cladodes) that are relatively sensitive to freezing temperatures below −6°C but extremely tolerant of high temperatures up to 65°C.

Fertilize the cactus every one to two months during the spring and summer with a 5-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) water-soluble fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water. Substitute the fertilizer for one of the plant's supplemental waterings