cacti

[janeyo]

Probably a really daft question but how do I pot on prickly cacti? I have one that has had babies and they are all outgrowng the one tiny pot.

(what is it with my houseplants reproducing all the time?!)

And when I pot on can I just use houseplant compost?

Thanks

[srodders]

Do you mean as in wrap them in newspaper and wear gloves so you don't get spiked when handling them or as in just seperate the pups from the parent and place them on a sandy soil until they root and then pot them up - I used to place them on pure,dry sand until they rooted.

[Jeanied]

Wrap a strip of cardboard round mother cactus - has to be long enough to put the two ends together to make a handle. Tip out of pot avoiding spines. Use something to prise off babies with a bit of root - kitchen tongs? Check compost it has come out of- if very open add grit to houseplant compost. Repot mother using a pencil to nudge it in round the edge - and remove cardboard. Pop babies in pots of their own. That's the theory!

[janeyo]

Thanks!

Think I will need a drink before I tackle that