How to Trim a Cold Burnt Cactus

Most cactus plants are suited for a warm climate. However, an unusual cold snap can occur where cactus plants grow outdoors. In addition, an early frost can catch some growers by surprise so that they inadvertently leave their potted cactus plants outside. When cactus tissue is exposed to freezing temperatures, damage occurs. Cactus tissue is mostly water and the water freezes inside, damaging the surrounding tissue. As long as there is an undamaged area of the cactus plant at the bottom next to the roots, you can save the cactus by trimming off the damaged areas.

Scissors or garden shears

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the cactus plant. Frost damage appears as purple or black areas. If the damage is purple, you can safely leave the cactus untrimmed. The purple areas will likely rebound and become green again.
- 2
  Wear heavy-duty garden gloves to protect your hands from injury from handling cactus.
- 3
  Trim the black areas with sharp scissors or garden shears. Leave green and purple areas intact. Black areas have completely dead tissue and must be removed. If you do not remove black areas, they will decay. This decay can spread to the rest of your cactus and possibly kill the entire plant. New growth will appear wherever you have trimmed the black areas
- 4
  Trim the cactus on a warm, sunny day or indoors in a warm area. Wait as late as possible in the year so that the danger of further freezing temperatures is past.
- 5
  Trim jointed cactus, such as Christmas cactus, prickly pear or cholla, at a joint below the damage. New growth will eventually appear at the cut joint.

How to Re-Plant a Cactus

White Spots on the Crown of a Thorn Plant

Growing Cactus