The cultivar used in this test plot is reported to have been brought from Mexico by the Spanish in 1541. Since it has been growing in a tropical environment for close to 500 years, it should be adapted to this climate.
In this site, there was an existing stand of opuntia ficus indica growing near a tree. The trunk and stem was woody and well established. However, due to the December 2021 typhoon which hit the area, the trunk suffered considerable damage and had begun to rot. We removed the good cladodes and replanted them in a protected area where they could not be attacked by livestock on the property.
This took place in March 2023.