Propagate Organ Pipe Cactus From a Cutting

Propagate organ pipe cactus from a stem cutting in warm weather, or sow seed on mix that drains. Let a cut dry until it skins over before you set it, so the wound does not rot. Sun, watering, and winter rest stay on How to Grow Organ Pipe Cactus.

Cut a stem and let the wound dry before you set it

organ pipe cactus roots from a firm stem, but it is slow. Most cactus cuttings root in four to six weeks in summer. This species can take several months before the tip shows new growth. [1] Wear gloves. A newspaper wrap helps you hold the column without the spines. Twist off a branch or cut it clean, then dry it in a warm, shaded spot until the wound skins over. [2]

1. Choose a healthy stem from this or last year's growth. Cut the parent at a 45 degree angle so water does not sit in the wound.
2. Square the base of the cutting. Dust with sulfur if you have it. Stand the piece upright in a dry, shaded spot until the cut turns gray-brown and skins over. A thick stem can take weeks.
3. Fill a pot with a mix that is about half pumice or perlite and half peat or cactus mix. The pot needs a drainage hole.
4. Set the cutting deep enough to stand, about one third to one half of the way in. Do not bury most of the stem.
5. Keep it in bright light. This genus can root in full sun once the wound is dry. Water only when the mix is barely damp, then empty the saucer.
6. Wait until the stem feels plump again and the growing tip shows new tissue. Then treat it as a rooted plant, and move it toward full sun.

Sow seed on mix that drains, barely covered

Seed is slower than a cutting, but it is an easy start if you have fresh, cleaned seed. Rinse the pulp off, because seed left in fruit pulp often will not sprout. Sow it on the surface of a gritty mix. Do not bury it deep. [3] Keep the tray warm and bright, but not in hot midday sun. A clear cover holds moisture until seedlings show. Then vent it so mold does not form. [4]

1. Rinse pulp off ripe seed, or open a fresh packet. Sow it as it is. Do not bury it deep.
2. Fill a shallow tray with a mix that is about half pumice or perlite. Moisten it from below, then press the seed on the surface. Barely cover it with coarse sand.
3. Cover with a clear lid or wrap, and set it in bright light. Nights around 65 to 70 F help. Vent the cover each day so mold does not form.
4. Keep the surface barely moist. Seedlings may show in one to three weeks.
5. Once they are about half an inch across, move them into their own small pots of cactus mix. Wait a few days before the first soak. Give young plants bright light, not hot midday sun.

If a cutting turns soft at the base, cut above the rot, dry the new wound, and set it in fresh, dry mix.