How to Cut & Pot a Cactus

Cactuses make for unique additions to any home or garden. These plants are often seen in films and television dotting the deserts of the American West. They do not need a ton of water, making them ideal for arid climates, and are relatively easy to care for. Cactuses can be grown with cuttings in a standard planting pot. The cuttings should be taken from a healthy, growing cactus and you should have some experience with these plants before attempting to grow your own.

Thick gloves
Healthy cactus
Sharp knife
Plate
Planting pot
Cactus potting mix

Instructions

- 1
  Put on your thick gloves before you start the cutting process. The gloves should protect you from the cactus' sharp, prickly hairs.
- 2
  Grab the tip of the portion you wish to cut off the healthy cactus with one hand. Cut the cactus cleanly at the joint, if your particular cactus has them. Make the cut as cleanly as possible. The resulting cutting should be a few inches high.
- 3
  Place the cutting on a plate and let it dry for at least a week. It must become "calloused," meaning that the section where you cut it must be completely dry so that no excess water may enter the plant.
- 4
  Fill a pot with cactus potting soil. This is usually a type of sand that can be purchased from almost any garden center. Pack it down tightly.
- 5
  Plant the cutting about 1 to 2 inches into the soil and leave the top portion exposed. Let it sit for about two weeks.
- 6
  Water the cactus until the soil is damp but not overflowing. Do not water it again until two to four weeks after the soil has completely dried from the initial watering. The cactus should begin rooting and growing normally after about six weeks.

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