Pie'oh'Pah Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Hey Guys As I am often more of a lurker I thought for a change I'd share my experience with cutting Columns. I have always kind of felt bad about taking a knife to my plants. But for various reasons from scarring to etiolation cutting the plant can be the best thing. I always thoroughly clean my knives, first scrubbed and then wiped with isopropyl alcohol (re-wiped between each cut). When selecting a location I angle between two levels of areoles I find that they pup quickest when cut near the spines.I used to use Dusting Sulphur on all fresh cuts but I am now leaving them be. Here are a few pictures of some Trichcoereus Pachanoi which broke during a house move 10 weeks ago, it really shows how quickly they recover. The pups are about 5 weeks old ATM. So if you have some tips looking like these! Cut them off. Peace Pie Edited January 11, 2015 by Pie'oh'Pah 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheExplorer Posted January 10, 2015 Every plant is different IMO. I have some that will throw out 4-8 pups every time I cut them, and others that take a full season to produce 1. The ones that struggle to pup put on more mass if I just leave them. That's a nice pach in picture 1, is it a particular clone? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quixote Posted January 10, 2015 Won't the new pups just eventually develop like their wretched forebear? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted January 11, 2015 Possibly one of the toughest, hardiest, easiest to grow and propagate plants on the face of the earth, I thre a scarred, black rot infested fucked up pachanoi behind my old mans shed bout 8 years ago, at Christmas I was giving dad a hand cleaning out the shed and low and behold the fucked up cacti had taken root and thrown up three perfectly healthy columns. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pie'oh'Pah Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) Won't the new pups just eventually develop like their wretched forebear? Generally no these plants behaved like this due etiolation which occurs when the light levels are too low. I often have this issue when rooting new cuttings. These plants have now been in direct sunlight for a few months so they should won't stretch to find the sun anymore. The pups should come out nice a fat and within 4-8 months be 75% as wide as the base. Single pups always grow fastest and when I have more than three one will often cease growing and let the others take over. Happy to post some pictures of the first pups when they arrive. Possibly one of the toughest, hardiest, easiest to grow and propagate plants on the face of the earth, I thre a scarred, black rot infested fucked up pachanoi behind my old mans shed bout 8 years ago, at Christmas I was giving dad a hand cleaning out the shed and low and behold the fucked up cacti had taken root and thrown up three perfectly healthy columns. Yeah they are definitely hardcore I had a soft tip from a mail delivery (black spots and all) and decided to see if I was right to remove it. After just sitting on top of some dirt it had pupped and even rooted. It wasn't a top performer but I was just amazed at its will to live. Edited January 11, 2015 by Pie'oh'Pah Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pie'oh'Pah Posted January 11, 2015 That's a nice pach in picture 1, is it a particular clone? Nah just a PC Pachanoi/Trichocereus Pachanoi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted January 12, 2015 so what's the best time to cut? spring...summer ...autumn...? during spring & summer there's a lot of growth & fatting to be had.......seems a shame to cut then unless you need too. Autumn cuts...should give a good start for new pups in the coming spring...? I'm not keen on the pupping above ground look (mid stem).................I'd be inclined to cut for a good long clean stem/tip...& then cut up the base/lower stem into 150mm sections for repotting....so pups form just above the root..............other wise you get the permanent cut scar. I find cutting on the areoles, causes them to pup..........I do it with grafting also....cut the seedling/scion through the areoles, & they throw out multiable new pups @ the graft union. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quixote Posted January 17, 2015 (edited) Generally no these plants behaved like this due etiolation which occurs when the light levels are too low. I often have this issue when rooting new cuttings. These plants have now been in direct sunlight for a few months so they should won't stretch to find the sun anymore. The pups should come out nice a fat and within 4-8 months be 75% as wide as the base. Well, since those are growing in pots, won't the new stems just start etoliating too, when light levels drop in winter? Cutting off the stems to stop skinny growth seems like "kicking the can down the road" to me. I generally keep my cacti from growing thin, by not watering them in winter, and I keep my livingroom quite cool. But still, they have a bit of waist for each growth season. It annoys me. Edited January 17, 2015 by Quixote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted January 17, 2015 You guys obviously live somewhere with freezing winter temps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pie'oh'Pah Posted February 4, 2015 Here are some pictures of the plants which have all now pupped. Only 4 weeks from cut to pup. Here is one of my Pach one pup has semi-stalled the other three are still going strong. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
