Preparatory work for a successful cut
Pay special attention to the quality of the cutting tool so that a cactus with its succulent, fleshy shoots and leaves can survive pruning without damage. Furthermore, please take appropriate precautions with the following preparatory work so that you do not become a victim of the prickly plant reinforcement:
- To shorten fleshy parts of the plant, have a scalpel or freshly sharpened knife ready
- For cutting woody shoots Saw knife use
- Disinfect each blade with alcohol
- Put on sturdy gloves made of leather or nitrile
- Purchase charcoal ash in the garden center for wound treatment
also read
- Cut and plant cacti offshoots - this is how it works
- Can cacti overwinter outdoors?
- This is how cacti thrive in the glass - tips for the self-planted terrarium
As dexterity is impaired with thick gloves, we recommend using grill or kitchen tongs to fix the shoots.
How to shorten a cactus properly
The best time to prune cacti is from March to July. With the following incision, possible damage is repaired, the size is regulated and at the same time a renewed budding is ensured:
- Shorten a cactus that is too long or too big at the narrowest point
- Make the cut at a slight angle so that the sap can run off unhindered
- Ideally, cut back unbranched columnar cacti to the end of the stem
- Cut away sick, putrid areas down to the light, undyed tissue
Then dust the cuts with the charcoal powder to minimize the flow of sap and to disinfect the area. In case you sick Shorten parts of plants, please wipe the blade with an alcohol-soaked cloth after each cut.
The ideal depth of cut should be such that at least 1 to 2 sleeping eyes linger on the shoot or trunk. Where thorns or leaves thrive, there are usually buds that are capable of sprouting, without which further growth is not possible.
Tips
Cacti are not poisonousso that you don't have to worry about maintenance. The risk of injury due to the often very sharp and powerful thorns, however, should not be underestimated. Opuntia give us edible fruits and at the same time treat us with spines that cause painful injuries and inflammations on the skin.
