I don't know anything about the science, ... but don't forget that you can root the pruned pieces.

Wayne, you live in a beautiful place. Don't you just love the golden light after an afternoon storm.

Your plants are nice too.

LOL. Can't have the little dears playing with just anyone. What would the neighbors think?

As long as you enjoy it, that is great. A new twist to an old saying, The best fertilizer is the gardener's fingers.

Cool!

Looks like eggs to me too. If this had been in something beside a cactus pot, my first guess would be snails/slugs. I suppose that is possible.

As my kids say, "Oops, Me bad."

Hmmm, a purple cactus might be the first cactus that I pursue for itself. Normally I just wait for one to cross my path and then allow whim to decide if it goes or stays.

IMO, they are easy to grow. They put up with a lot of abuse. Yours - determinedly reaching for the sun - will live for quite a while (possibly years) before it just gives up and dies. However, if you want a pretty, robust, reasonably compact, multiplying, mostly upright, well formed plant, then you ...

Bright shade might be at the very edge of tree shade, or might be near a bright reflective wall that gets a fair amount of light. Dappled shade is usually bright. A shade cloth (in full sun) that is relatively light weight and light colored will give a bright shade. Some trees give dense shade, e.g....

You either live where the sun is wimpy or there are not as many hours of sun as you think.

Mine can live thru full baking summer sun. They turn an unattractive reddish tan, but stay compact. The best looking ones grow in very bright shade.

I know I am late to this party, but ... There is no such compound word as Cactiguide or Cactusguide in standard dictionaries. It is a newly coined "word", hence however it is initially used is automatically correct. Personally, I think Cactiguide was an excellent choice. I like the way it ...

Very nice. Love the color. Will it always stay that purple-y color? ... or does it require certain light levels to maintain the color, or does it outgrow the color?

Nice shots.

More light! You can trim leaves and rebury the stalk, however I would wait a bit until it gets healthier. It needs all of its leaves for food now.