If the majestic columnar cactus collides with the ceiling or one arm of the snake cactus is damaged, pruning will fix the problem. These instructions explain how to trim a cactus professionally with tips on cutting tools and the correct aftercare for cuts.
How do I properly cut a cactus shorter?
To trim a cactus professionally, use a sharp, disinfected knife or saw blade and wear sturdy gloves. Cut the cactus at the narrowest point or down to the hard, uncolored tissue and disinfect the cut with charcoal powder.
Preparatory work for a successful cut
To ensure that a cactus with its succulent, fleshy shoots and leaves survives pruning without damage, pay particular attention to the quality of the cutting tool. Furthermore, please take appropriate precautions with the following preparatory work so that you do not become a victim of the prickly plant reinforcement:
- To shorten fleshy plant parts, have a scalpel or freshly sharpened knife ready
- Use a saw knife to cut woody shoots
- Disinfect each blade with alcohol
- Put on sturdy gloves made of leather or nitrile
- Buy charcoal ash at the garden center for wound treatment
As dexterity is impaired when wearing thick gloves, we recommend using grill or kitchen tongs to hold the shoots in place.
How to trim a cactus professionally
The best time to trim cacti is during the months of March to July. The following cut will repair any damage, regulate the size and at the same time ensure renewed growth:
- Short the narrowest part of a cactus that is too long or too large
- Make the cut at a slight angle so that plant sap can drain unhindered
- Unbranched columnar cacti should ideally be cut back to the shoot end of the trunk
- Cut away diseased, rotten areas down to the light, uncolored tissue
The cuts are then dusted with the charcoal powder to minimize the flow of sap and disinfect the area. If you are trimming diseased plant parts, please wipe the blade with an alcohol-soaked cloth after each cut.
The ideal cutting depth should be such that at least 1 to 2 sleeping eyes remain on the shoot or trunk. Where thorns or leaves thrive, there are usually also buds capable of sprouting, without which further growth is not possible.
Tip
Cacti are not poisonous, so you don't have to worry about caring for them. However, the risk of injury from the often very sharp and strong thorns should not be underestimated. Opuntias give us edible fruits and at the same time attack us with spines that cause painful injuries and inflammation on the skin.
