Cactus offshoots you can easily grow yourself. There are several ways to do this. We show you three methods how you can propagate cacti.
You can propagate a cactus via cuttings, but also in other ways. Some methods are quick, for others you need a little more patience. In the following we will show you three possibilities that you can try. A good period for propagating cacti is from April to August.
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Propagating cacti via cuttings
The first method we would like to show you is propagation via cactus offshoots. Some species of cacti form small offshoots that are still connected to the mother plant, but already have their own roots. This often happens, for example, with cacti from the genera Echinocereus, Echinops (globe thistles), Mammillaria and Rebutia.
Propagation of cacti by cuttings is simple. The best time is between March and June. This way, the cuttings have enough time to grow well until winter.
- Take a sharp knife and clean or disinfect it. You can rub it with alcohol, for example, to kill possible germs.
- Choose a cutting and separate it from the rest of the plant with a clean cut. Make sure that the roots remain attached – do not simply cut horizontally. Tip: If there is a lot of sap coming out, you can dip a kitchen towel in hot water and place it on the cuttings and the mother plant. This will stop the flow of sap. Alternatively, a knife heated with a lighter is also suitable.
- Then fill a planting pot with cactus soil. If you are unsure which soil is suitable, you can get advice from a specialist shop. Make sure it is peat-free to protect the bogs.
- Put the cactus offshoot root first into the substrate and press the soil down so that it stands on its own.
- Then place the offshoot in a warm, semi-shaded spot where it can regenerate. After about a week you can water it for the first time.
Tip: If the cactus offshoot threatens to tip over, simply stabilize it with a wooden stick.
Propagate cactus by seed
You can propagate cacti not only by cuttings; another possibility is seeds. If you don’t have your own seeds, you can use seeds from cactus nurseries or seed shops. Tip: It is best to look for organic seeds. You can read more about this here: Organic seeds: Good reasons for organic seeds and where you can buy them.
And this is how you proceed with the sowing:
- Take small growing pots or empty yogurt cups and fill them with suitable growing soil. If you are unsure which soil is the right one, ask for advice in a specialized shop.
- Spread the seeds evenly over the soil, making sure they are only lightly covered. Cacti are light germinators. If you dig the seeds too deep, they will not develop.
- It is best to place the seed pots in a warm place. Always keep the soil moist and ensure high humidity. You can achieve this, for example, by placing a glass plate over the pots or placing a bell over them. Important: Air the pots once a day so that the soil does not start to mold.
- As soon as you see the first cotyledons, take the plants out of the potting soil and transfer them to small pots with cactus soil. You can plant two to four plants per pot.
- To stimulate further growth, a bright location with a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius is suitable.
Propagate cacti via cuttings
The third method of propagating cacti is probably the most common. Here you propagate the cacti not by runners, but by so-called cuttings.
- Use a sharp, clean knife to cut a shoot from the cactus you want to propagate. For maximum cleanliness, you can disinfect the knife beforehand. Tip: Cut the shoot as close to the ground as possible.
- Then leave the cutting for a day or two so that the cut dries. If you skip this step, you risk that the cut will rot later.
- Then place the cutting, cut side down, in a pot with suitable soil. Do not water it for the first week and only spray the soil with a little water.
- The cactus cutting will remain in the pot until it has rooted through the soil. You can see this when the roots come out of the holes at the bottom. Then you can transplant it into a new container and care for it like a full-grown cactus.
