Cacti can be propagated by rooting and transplanting a section of the plant. Cuttings need to be handled with care, and once they have begun to root, they should be placed in an appropriately sized container with adequate soil. Overwatering your cacti will harm them, so don’t do it.
A casual bump or an unexpected mishap can easily knock a chunk off your beloved cactus plant, as can too active toddlers, raiding cats, or an unexpected accident. To ease your mind, if this ever happens to you, there’s no need to throw away the severed piece.
Despite the fact that the main plant can survive even after losing part of its stem, discarding the detached part and forgetting about it may seem wasteful.
If so, how do you plant the clipped piece of cactus? Yes, that’s what I’m getting at. Cuttings of many cacti species can be used to propagate them. Cacti such as the night-blooming cereus and prickly pear are two examples of common cacti that can be reproduced from cuttings.
Please don’t throw away any broken pieces of your cactus if they happen to break off. Make a new plant from the rhizome instead.
Everything you need to know about cactus cutting propagation is covered in this post. Whatever the case may be, we’ll show you how to propagate new plants from cuttings, whether you took them knowingly or unintentionally.
CUTTING OFF A BIT OF YOUR CACTUS
Cactus can be successfully propagated by taking cuttings, but great consideration is needed when doing so. In reality, your long-term success will be determined by this stage. Cutting your cactus too soon or too late could result in it not growing to its full potential.
A healthy and well-matured plant is the initial step in the process. It’s important to pick a mature pad even if smaller ones have started to sprout on top of it if your plant has pads;
Take a few inches from the top of the plant after identifying a good candidate for cuttings and put on gloves to protect your hands. In order to complete this task, you’ll need a well-balanced knife or hand saw.
Cutting at an angle will prevent rainfall from pooling on the parent plant, which could lead to rot problems. Additionally, you should clean the knife or handsaw before using it for any cutting.
It’s important to keep germs from spreading to the plant’s surface through any wounds it may have. Cactus pliers or tongs can be used if you don’t feel comfortable handling a cactus plant with your hands.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR CUTS FOR CACTUS
Before you can root your cutting, you’ll need to take care of a few details.
The first step is to keep your cutting out of direct sunlight for a few days in a dry, cool environment. If possible, maintain the cutting vertically to avoid roots from sprouting on the cutting’s sides and to keep it straight as it dries.
Allow the cut end to heal for a few days so that a callus can form. Take the cutting and put it in the ground as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will rot and you will have nothing.
To prevent the cutting from rotting after planting due to bacterial and fungal organisms, callousing closes and hardens the wound.
1. Planting in a pot is the FIRST STEP.
Rooting your cutting is the next step after it has been dried and calloused to begin the process of becoming a new plant. You have the option of either rooting your cutting in the ground or in a planting pot. Both strategies will be discussed.
A pot that’s too small for your cutting could cause it to fail to thrive. You don’t need a huge container for trimming. You just need to pick something suitable that won’t look excessively enormous when you cut it out. The container you purchase should have a lot of drainage holes.
Once you’ve got your container ready, you’ll need to add some potting soil. Because it’s critical to the life and germination of your cactus cutting, let’s take some time to talk about the soil.
Your cactus, like mature cacti, needs well-draining, porous soil. Remember that rotting of the cutting at the base can occur if the soil retains water for an extended period of time. Consider adding perlite or sand to your soil in order to ensure proper drainage.
After that, fill the pot with potting soil and insert the cutting into it carefully. Cuttings of less than six inches in length should penetrate at least two inches into the soil, while those of more than six inches should penetrate at least three to four inches.
To keep your cutting upright, use tiny stones or two wooden stakes tied together with rope.
Away from direct sunshine, place the newly planted cuttings. Position your pot in a well-lit area, but keep the cutting out of direct sunlight until the roots are well-established before relocating the pot.
Before it has a chance to establish a strong root system, you want to keep your cutting away from direct sunlight and dehydration.
2. SETTING UP HOME IN THE GROUND
Rooting your cutting in the ground is an option if a suitable pot is not available. Make sure to soften the soil in the area where you wish to plant your cutting if you decide to go this route.
You’ll then need to excavate an area large enough to fit the calloused end of your cutting a few inches into the loose earth.
If the cutting is from a columnar cactus, you may have to support it with a pile of small stones.
You can remove the stones once the roots have grown and your cutting is securely rooted in the ground.
Is it necessary to immediately water the cuttings after planting?
You need to pay attention to the watering of cacti plants when it comes to their upkeep. If you haven’t already heard, succulents die considerably more quickly when overwatered than when underwatered.
After rooted, how often should you water your cutting? Consider carefully soaking the soil before planting. After that, watering isn’t as necessary because the cutting can last for a few days or weeks before it needs to be re-watered.
After that, watering should be light and regular. To keep your cutting moist, it’s a good idea to water it lightly once a week. The soil should be damp, but not soggy.
Overwatering will simply cause the cuttings to decay if you attempt to speed up the rooting process.
WHEN DOES A CACTUS CUTTING BEGIN TO SPROUT ROOTS?
Many variables influence how quickly cuttings take root, including their size, cactus variety, and watering schedule.
Smaller cuttings tend to form roots more quickly than larger cuttings, which typically take four to six weeks to form roots.
Prepare your cuttings in advance and pot them in sterile rooting media to prevent decay or withering before they root if you want better results. Approximately one month after germination, most cacti are suitable for transplantation.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLANT THE PIECES OF A CACTUS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN OFF?
Definitely. Broken bits of your plant should not be thrown away because they contain seeds that can grow into new plants. It’s all about making sure you’re following the correct procedure while preparing the broken pieces for planting.
Before anything else, you should inspect the broken end of the object. Make a fresh cut to straighten out any crooked or broken edges with a sharp knife.
The wound on the shattered piece should be allowed to callous over for a few days before roots. The cut end must be dry and sealed before attempting to root the plant.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT GROWS PROPAGATION
Seeing your cuttings/seeds grow into new plants is a gardener’s greatest pleasure. Cacti plants can be propagated using these tips:
1. BECOME AN EXPERT IN TECHNOLOGY AND MECHANICS
Spend some time honing your hand and eye coordination, as these skills are critical to the spread of the disease. Most of the time, you’ll know how to do something, but you’ll be unable to do it because your body isn’t ready. In order to become a better player, you must practice.
2. CACTI KNOWLEDGE: KNOW YOUR SPECIES AND THE BEST MEANS OF PROPAGATION FOR EACH ONE.
Worldwide, cacti species number in the thousands, and each one is distinct. That’s why knowing your plant species and the optimum method of propagation is so important.
3. Become familiar with the various plants’ structures and how they develop.
Studying your cactus is the best approach to gain knowledge about it. Learn something new about your plant every day if you want to keep it interesting to you. Let it teach you, and propagating them will be a breeze once you have a handle on how they grow.
The final thought
Having mastered the basics of cutting cacti plants for propagation, it’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice.
