Astrophutym repotting advice

[ElieEstephane]

I got some A. Myriostigma in the usual clumped peat. With any other cactus it would not have been a problem for me. However, how do i repot them without disturbing and rubbing off the trichomes (flocking)? has anyone had experience with this or has any special tricks to try? A friend suggested pulling them off by the "neck" of the tap root and only leaving the tap root to reduce risk of root rot.
Any advice or trick is welcome!
Thank you.

[7george]

Root rot is possible if the damaged root is kept at wet space soon after the re-potting manipulation. If your small cacti are already indoors, dry and so they will be till the spring you don't risk much. That Astro even can be kept bare-rooted the whole winter and watched.

At the other hand it is said Astrophytums badly take soil change, some growers advise just to transfer those into bigger pot without disturbing the roots, as people do this in the commercial greenhouses. But you need to get rid of the peat.

So I'd just try to remove gently those chunks of peat that contain no roots and leave that binded to roots. Use an wood stick, not a metal one.
Good luck!

[ElieEstephane]

Thanks george. I actually have another myriostigma i got in april. I repotted immediately in a mostly mineral mix and it took soil change quite well and the root system is very healthy. However that one was in a 2 inch pot so it's very easy to handle and remove the peat with water pressure. The ones i got lately are in a deep 6 inch pot so it's gonna be messy. If i were to keep them in peat, the pot is way too big to grow them free of trouble.
I guess i'll make sure the pot is very dry for now and deal with this problem in spring.