Propogation
- Cuttings
Cut
Make a straight, clean cut with a sharp knife through the connection of the cutting and the "mom" plant. Use a saw for larger plants with woody skeletons. Avoid unhealthy or erect (curved) stems. Though not necessary, an application of powdered sulphur on the cut surfaces may be applied to prevent infection. Cactus cuttings root most easily when taken during their natural growth season (usually in warm weather).
Tip
Callusing
When fully callused, you may moisture the scar for 1 week before planting in the soil.
Place the cutting in a dry area out of direct sunlight until the wound is fully callused over (ther production of bark-looking substance over the wound). This will take a few days for a small cut surface, or a week for a large cut surface. Never attempt to skip this procedure, as the cut may develop bacteria/fungi and rot the plant.
Plant
Plant the cutting a well-drained soil mixture just deep enough to hold it upright. Insure that the soil has good drainage (preferably cactus soil).
During cool or humid weather, cactus cuttings should be rooted in an especially well-drained mixture of half coarse sand and half soil or pure sand if you have it. Rooting is best accomplished with some shade to prevent sunburn of the plant.
Water
Water immediately after planting and thereafter every time the planting mix becomes totally dry. Never allow the planting mix to remain totally dry for more than a few days.
The main reason for rooting failure is rot. This is caused by too much water, especially in cool or humid months when soil does not dry out quickly. In cool weather, it may not be necessary to water the plant after the initial watering until the weather begins to turn warm.
Check
Check for roots every two weeks by gently moving the plant in the soil, using tongs or wearing gloves. If there is strong resistance, the cutting is rooted. New growth is evidence that rooting has occurred, but sudden swelling (turgor) of the stem is better proof that water-absorbing roots are present. As long as the cutting still contains moisture, and is not diseased, it still has the potential to eventually make roots, even if it is somewhat shriveled.
