---
title: "I was given an old prickly pear cactus that had been dropped and…"
description: "I was given an old prickly pear cactus that had been dropped and broken and just placed back in soil. I ended up repotting all the pieces in a pot and hoping…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/D2aS32wyRQqIq5nekPC9uH"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Miranda"
published: "2026-05-19T13:39:46.317663Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Jph5QwKlrE1Nt6dThwLr7f6b1TIDfR0WSm-rme2kw4M/RymrDrJdS5KbF_YpRHmUFA.webp?size=large"
---

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# I was given an old prickly pear cactus that had been dropped and…

_Posted by Miranda on 2026-05-19_

I was given an old prickly pear cactus that had been dropped and broken and just placed back in soil. I ended up repotting all the pieces in a pot and hoping for the best. Eventually they started getting sprouts but those sprouts just keep getting longer and longer and I’m worried it’s never going to get wider to be able to support itself!! Has anyone seen anything like this? Is it normal? Is there anything I should do? Overall it seems so happy but I don’t know what’s going on😂

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Jph5QwKlrE1Nt6dThwLr7f6b1TIDfR0WSm-rme2kw4M/RymrDrJdS5KbF_YpRHmUFA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Jph5QwKlrE1Nt6dThwLr7f6b1TIDfR0WSm-rme2kw4M/2YOCVbQgQny0SqZq6SkZpA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Jph5QwKlrE1Nt6dThwLr7f6b1TIDfR0WSm-rme2kw4M/HhlVAMABRnOx2krRAKeATg.webp?size=large)

## 3 comments

### Miranda commented on 2026-05-19

Will it survive now that it’s so long? Should I put it in a window or outside?

#### Nunyabzwx replied on 2026-05-19

I would put it outside in the sun. I'm not sure it will fix the long ones but the new growth will be better. Just make sure it's in the sun. This happened to me as well indoors and it died.

### Phil commented on 2026-05-19

Yes they require a lot of light and yours has not been getting enough. I have a bunny ear cactus. I think it’s pretty much same plant. It is just a few inches from a Sansi grow light. I’m amazed it has not burned. Any other plant would have sunburn. The lights are on 12 hours a day.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/nnr9zD0XRmuKMTHh7skDsA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/EYxZaQiMSiCKzTCRpPIaPg.webp?size=large)

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