In its South American homeland, the columnar cactus reaches heights of up to 15 meters. When cultivated indoors, it doesn't grow nearly as tall, but it can grow considerably large and wide. At the latest when it no longer fits into the room, you can safely prune it. What you need to consider when shortening.
How to shorten a columnar cactus?
To shorten a columnar cactus, select a suitable location on the trunk in spring or early summer, clean the cutting tool thoroughly and make a straight cut. Protect your hands with leather gloves and, if necessary, wrap the trunk with a terry towel.
You can shorten a columnar cactus
The best time to shorten a columnar cactus is early spring or early summer. You shouldn't cut it off later in the year as it won't recover as well.
Shoots that you cut in spring can be used very well for propagation.
How to cut the columnar cactus
- Wrap the trunk if necessary
- Clean cutting tool
- select a suitable location
- make the cut as straight as possible
Which cutting tool (€14.00 on Amazon) is suitable for a columnar cactus depends on the age and therefore the thickness of the trunk. If the shoots are not yet very thick, a sharp knife is usually sufficient. To cut thicker logs, use a hacksaw. If possible, look for a place where the trunk is slightly thinner or between two shoots.
You should clean the edges of the knife or saw thoroughly beforehand. Columnar cacti are very susceptible to fungal spores and bacteria. These penetrate the interfaces of the plant and can cause the leaf cactus to rot.
The cut must be made as straight and clean as possible. Torn and frayed interfaces offer good entry opportunities for bacteria, germs and fungal spores.
Beware of the spikes
Depending on the species, the columnar cactus has very strong spines. But the fine hairs that some varieties have can also be very unpleasant for the hands.
Protect your hands with leather gloves when trimming columnar cacti. If the spines are very thick and pointed, simply wrap the trunk with a thick terry towel.
Tip
So that you can use the cut parts of the columnar cactus as cuttings for propagation, you must let the cuttings dry for several weeks. It is important that you place the shoots as upright as possible and never store them lying down.
