Cactus cutting questions..

[Lookin 2 Grow]

G'day guys, how are we??

I'm about to do my 1st cactus cutting. The pic shown is the candidate.

Anyone with 1st hand experience please send me your advice!!!!

Basically I wanna cut off the top 6-8 inches (whatever is the recommended length) and re-root then TEA UP THE REST .. Can't wait.

Just a couple o' questions. Sorry but I'm still a newbie to most aspects of the Cacti.

1. What is the recommended length for a good cutting?
2. Should the cutting bottom & the top of the rest be covered in hormone solution or is this not necessary?
3. If hormone solution is recommended, when should this be applied?? Right away?
4. Should I cut at a 90 degree angle or on an angle?? (I just read that it's better to cut on an angle to prevent water pooling on top.
5. Should the stem? Column? be moved inside till it calluses to prevent rot? Or will it be fine to heal itself outside in full sun?

I've rooted a Bridgesii cutting so the rest from here should be fine but that was already cut, dipped in hormone solution & callused. This'll be my 1st time at havin a go myself!!!

Can't wait for the tea!!

Peace, L2G

[jay-pheno]

swim cuts on a slope so water can roll off the top , also dusts the new cut with sulpher powder . you may wanna move the plant to less light an a dryer place till the cut can heal ..
swim hasnt used any rooting hormones , seems to work fine

[paph]

Just as Jay said

IMO the sulphur definitely helps with the prevention of rot and aids in drying.
I tried Clonex rooting gel on my last tip cutting and got lots of root buds (this it is not essential though, cacti can easily be rooted without it.)

Good luck bro. (Your gonna love the tea!)

[Irishlion]

Originally Posted by Lookin 2 Grow

1. What is the recommended length for a good cutting?

12 to 16 inches, now if you are talking about dosage with pedro atleast 1200 to 1600 fresh grams but, there again you are playing a potency roulette wheel with cacti, 1200 could be great or 1200 could be shitty, being aussie grown as you have a very good enviroment for stressing cacti I would imagine 1200 fresh grams of that pedro would be a good dose. But, you could always error on the side of heafty to make sure but, like i said sometimes that gun is empty and sometimes it completly loaded.

2. Should the cutting bottom & the top of the rest be covered in hormone solution or is this not necessary?

No, rooting hormone isn't required. But, it will help and only place hormone on the side that will be contacting the soil. You don't want the rooting hormone on top as you could quite frankly have roots growing out the top and this would prevent pupping. Just allow to calus over, this takes about 2 weeks to be done properly then place the end with the hormone into the soil.

3. If hormone solution is recommended, when should this be applied?? Right away?

I never use it, like I said it in't required. Cactus root quite well without any hormone. Soil temp just HAS to be over 70 degrees F or 22 C But, to answer your question if you apply it I would apply it right away if using a power so it sticks to the bottom of the cutting then allow to calus and if your lucky by the time its calused over you might have a root bulb or 2 forming. Now if using something like dip and grow or a liquid hormone it can be applied just before you plant the cutting


4. Should I cut at a 90 degree angle or on an angle?? (I just read that it's better to cut on an angle to prevent water pooling on top.

yes the bottom where it is going to be placed into the soil should be cut at about a 22 degree angle IMO, as the center will sink in while its calusing. Now are you talking about teaing the whole thing, or teaing a portion and propergating another portion? When cutting the cactus down cut up from the soil about 2 inches or about 5 CM Make a horizontal cut. This will give you enough stalk for the cactus to repup.

5. Should the stem? Column? be moved inside till it calluses to prevent rot? Or will it be fine to heal itself outside in full sun?

you can move it inside if you like but, I have found that if you leave it lay outside on something like card board so it isn't touching the ground or anything wet that will aid in rot the sun will help a great deal in calusing the cutting

[rocketman]

make cuttings 6" or longer..this is the rule. Ive had them live from 3" and die at 8".

when cutting on an angle you are leaving the cut part in the dirt and removing the tip to eat, which is bass ackwards in my thinking.

anyhow whichever cutting you will root try to picture a pencil being sharpened by a knife, only no need for any point. just cut down and in toward the center at a slight angle. this will allow more area for roots to grow out of. more rooting area = higher success rate. sulpher is good but not at all necessary. sulpher is good to have on hand though in case the cacti you care for ever get infected.


dry cuttings for at least 14 days to be safe. put them in a cool dark and dry place for this time.

they should be dry and corky on the cut. they are safe to plant. never put a fresh cutting in direct sunlight, you will only cook it. a plant with no roots in the hot sun, you get the idea.

do not water an unrooted cactus, ever.
water has nothing to do with rooting. temperature of the soil they are potted in is all that matters. not light, not water, not soil conditions.

remember these guys live in the desert, they are very tough plants. what you may think is neglect may be too much for them.

i have kept many cuttings over the winters in my garage, pantry, and closet.
they wont die, but they may shrink a bit. no big deal, theyll bounce back after a couple of waterings after they root.

oh one last thing. wait until you physically look at the roots before setting outside or watering. if you dont want to physically check for roots a sure sign is a lime green or brighter green growth at the tips. this growth is noticably different in color and is a sign of a rooted cactus.