Rooting Tephrocactus etc. cuttings

[Ross M]

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to rooting these plants. Is it best to keep the compost on the damp or dry side whilst getting them to root:shrugs:

Thanks

[Stuart Estell]

Yes

Generally, I tend to leave them dry for a few weeks, and then start to water them.

Some tunillas etc are unstoppable and will root if left out on a shelf, others take longer - some true tephrocacti can take a year or two if they're being stubborn. Likewise, micropuntia seem to want to be almost shrivelled to death before making an effort.

With true tephros (i.e. articulatus, alexanderi, geometricus, bonnieae, weberi and friends) make sure you bury them well, as they tend to root from areoles rather than the cut surface. I've had bonnieae do both, but not the others.

Might be able to offer more specific advice if you can tell us exactly what you're trying to root, Ross.

[Benjy]

Yes, i found bonnieae will root 'right way up' and also from the sides,
but others are best laid on their sides, particularly with T.molinensis,
after some time - id realised i got nowhere trying to root them upright, like Stuart says, buried well on their sides they are now taking.

I havent rooted geometricus before, but the 2 heads i broke off the other day (mentioned in another thread) ive buried those in on their sides.
Unless anyone can advise me otherwise ?

I put my cuttings in trays and water when dry, on the way round doing the rest of my plants.

Benjy

[MikeT]

I found articulatus roots much better in the propagator with wet compost. When kept dry at nromal temperature the joints often just shrivel up without throwing any roots out

[CoronaCactus]

I've found that some of them take well when rooting in just coarse sand. Some do better when buried (right side up) but somewhat deep so just the tip is visible. While others do well just laying on thier sides on top of the sand. (Cumulopuntia sphaerica, Tephro articulatus v. diadematus and v. papryacanthus, T. weberi and T. darwinii/hickenii) They get watered (more like a misting) when watering the other plants. Once rooted they get moved to a regular compost.

If i leave them too dry for too long, the original rooting stem can shrivel, change color and look near death...but the new growth is kicking right along and the roots usually look very healthy.