Quck answer
Cloning a cactus is a simple and effective way to propagate new plants. To clone a cactus, follow these steps:
1. Choose a healthy cactus with no signs of disease or damage.
2. Use a sharp, sterilized knife to cut a small section of the cactus, ensuring there are at least two areoles present.
3. Let the cutting dry for a few days to form a callus.
4. Prepare a well-draining soil mix and plant the cutting in a small pot.
5. Place the pot in a bright, indirect light location and water sparingly.
6. After a few weeks, the cutting should start developing roots and new growth.
7. Continue to care for the cloned cactus as you would any other cactus.
By following these steps, you can successfully clone a cactus and expand your collection.
Cacti are members of the Cactaceae plant family, which includes both desert and tropical succulent plants. Cacti are easily reproducible and are distinguished from other succulents by the raised, round “bumps” on their skin known as areoles, which produce spines, hairlike bristles and flowers. Cacti can be cloned by taking a cutting or separating a pup from the parent plant and rooting it. It’s important to ensure that the cactus is not patented, as propagating patent-protected plants is illegal.
Begin With Safety
Start by sterilizing your cutting tools. Dip the blades of your knife, scissors or pruners in rubbing alcohol or a household cleaner, like Lysol or Pine-Sol. Wear safety glasses and rose gloves to protect your hands from the cactus spines. Use a long, thick strip of newspaper to wrap around the cactus to hold it in place while snipping off cuttings or removing the pups from the parent plant.
Cloning a Cactus Using Cuttings
Take cuttings of desert cacti by removing a 3- to 4-inch cutting from an actively growing stem, or remove a thick, fleshy pad. Ensure that stem cuttings have one or two nodes. Set the cuttings, whether stem or pad, aside for several days so the cut ends callous over.
Tropical cacti like the Christmas (​Schlumbergera russelliana​), Thanksgiving (​Schlumbergera truncata​) and Easter (​Schlumbergera gaertneri​) cacti have flattened stem segments that serve as their “leaves.” These South American natives are epiphytes and live in the branches of tropical trees. Take a cutting consisting of two to five segments and set it aside to develop a callous.
Insert the cutting into moistened cactus potting mix, perlite or coarse sand. Be sure at least one node is buried in the mix. If you’re starting a tropical cactus, put the cutting and pot into a plastic bag to increase the humidity. Set the cutting in a warm, brightly lit location out of direct sunlight, water when the mix begins to dry out and in a month or two, you should see new growth.
Reproducing Cacti With Pups
Some cacti, such as the lady fingers or powder puff cactus (​Mammillaria​ spp., zones 8-10) and crown cactus (​Rebutia​ spp., zones 9-11), also reproduce by growing offsets around their perimeter. These offsets are identical to the parent cactus and are referred to as pups. These small, slow-growing cacti thrive as houseplants indoors.
Separate the pups from the parent cactus using a sharp knife to cut through the flesh and/or roots that connect them. Set the pups aside to let the cut ends dry and callous over. Wait a few days to water the parent plant to avoid fungal infections and root rot.
Place the cutting in a moist cactus mix and set it in a brightly lit, warm location out of direct sunlight. Water lightly just to keep the mix barely moist until new roots appear. Once the cactus has developed new roots and is actively growing, begin applying a fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents.
Caring for Your Cactus: Watering and Fertilizing Tips
It is important to water your desert cactus only when the soil is dry, but do not allow it to completely dry out. Tropical cacti like Christmas cacti require regular watering and humidity to thrive.
Avoid letting your cactus sit in water by adding enough water until it drains from the pot and then emptying the saucer. During the winter when growth slows, reduce watering but occasionally mist the cactus.
Apply cactus fertilizer when your plant is actively growing and always water thoroughly afterwards to protect the roots from fertilizer salts. If you notice a white crust on the soil, flush the salts by placing the cactus in a sink and letting lukewarm water drain through the mix. Alternatively, repot the cactus in fresh potting mix.
FAQ
1. Can you really clone a cactus?
Yes, it is possible to clone a cactus. Cloning a cactus involves taking a small piece of the parent plant, such as a stem or a pad, and propagating it to grow into a new plant. This method is commonly used to reproduce cacti that have desirable traits, such as unique shapes or vibrant flowers.
2. What is the best time to clone a cactus?
The best time to clone a cactus is during the active growing season, which is usually in spring or early summer. During this time, the cactus is actively producing new growth and is more likely to root successfully. It is important to choose a healthy parent plant and ensure that the cutting is taken from a mature, established section. This increases the chances of successful propagation.
3. What are the steps to clone a cactus?
To clone a cactus, start by selecting a healthy parent plant with desirable traits. Using a sharp, sterilized knife, cut a small section of the cactus, such as a stem or a pad. Allow the cutting to dry for a few days until the cut end forms a callus. Once the callus has formed, plant the cutting in well-draining cactus soil and place it in a bright, indirect light location. Water the cutting sparingly, allowing the soil to dry out between watering. With proper care and patience, the cutting will develop roots and grow into a new cactus plant.