Cactus growing long and thin rather round and fat! (pics)

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:05 pm

I've had this plant for many years. The original plant at my father's house has nice round, fat growths. I've been told mine look this way due to not getting enough light and are "reaching" for light. For years, surely enough it didn't get much light but since we moved, get full sun. I give it a good soak weekly to the point that water drains from the pot. Any suggestions on how I can improve its health?

iann · Post by **iann** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:08 pm

Looks like you've already fixed it. The new growth is fine, the old growth is etiolated from lack of light. The old growth will never fatten up.

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:08 pm

Mods, I didn't realize there is a better section for this. Hopefully it can be moved. Sorry.

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:10 pm

iann wrote:Looks like you've already fixed it. The new growth is fine, the old growth is etiolated from lack of light. The old growth will never fatten up.

Is this why they have a bulbous shape? That's too bad because now the plant is very weak.

iann · Post by **iann** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:16 pm

Yes, that's the bulbous shape. You can cut off some pieces and root them to get a normal shape. The two largest heads aren't too bad, although they wouldn't win any prizes at a plant show.

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:32 pm

Here is another one that I have. The upper parts of the heads have a nice, plump, green look to them. I assume they are healthy but as you can see, they won't stay upright unless propped against something.

iann · Post by **iann** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:42 pm

Off with their heads!

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:44 pm

iann wrote:Off with their heads!

I can simply cut the fat part off? BTW, I'm not in any way knowledgeable about cacti.

tudedude · Post by **tudedude** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:36 pm

Wow, that's neat looking. Like a cluster of giant turbinicarpus.

TimN · Post by **TimN** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:30 pm

Yep, cut some tops off neatly with a sharp knife. Leave an inch or so of the narrow part. You'll want something kind of egg-shaped. No too much of a tail, but some.

Let them dry in a warm shady place with some airflow (i.e. not in a plastic box) for a week or so, then pot them up.

I usually sprinkle them with water on occasion to try to keep them from shriveling up too much. They should root and start growing in a few weeks.

When they have some roots start watering as you normally do, letting it get dry-ish between watering.

Good luck, you'll have some nice plants soon. If you leave the old plants, they will make more offsets which you can then use to repeat the process.

biohazzard · Post by **biohazzard** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:56 pm

TimN wrote:Yep, cut some tops off neatly with a sharp knife. Leave an inch or so of the narrow part. You'll want something kind of egg-shaped. No too much of a tail, but some.

Let them dry in a warm shady place with some airflow (i.e. not in a plastic box) for a week or so, then pot them up.

I usually sprinkle them with water on occasion to try to keep them from shriveling up too much. They should root and start growing in a few weeks.

When they have some roots start watering as you normally do, letting it get dry-ish between watering.

Good luck, you'll have some nice plants soon. If you leave the old plants, they will make more offsets which you can then use to repeat the process.

Thanks! I'm gonna' give it a shot! Out of curiosity, what will happen to the now headless plants?

eduart · Post by **eduart** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:09 am

Hi,

Thanks! I'm gonna' give it a shot! Out of curiosity, what will happen to the now headless plants?

They will probably offset like crazy. If you keep them in strong light new growth will be nice and fat. Probably a good source of new plants if you wish.

Cheers,

Eduart