How Can I remove Glued Plastic Blossoms from my Cactus?

[08SaraR]

I got this cute cactus trio as a gift several months back. It came with these darn plastic blossoms thickly glued to the cactus. I tried twisting them, bending them...and they won't come off. I'm afraid they will effect growth? Or no? Any idea on how to safely remove them? They're really stuck on there. D:

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ibb.co

Thank you in advance!

 

[Meadowlark]

It looks like one could take some wire cutters to the base of those and snip, snip the plastic would be gone.

 

[oneeye]

Those plastic flowers are for newbies just starting in cactus horticulture. The plastic flowers should be easy to remove if you use cuticle trimmers to cut around the bottom of the glue. Grab the flower and pull it off with a gentle twist. I use wet cardboard to hold the cactus to keep it from getting stuck with thorns when I twist the flower off. It won't hurt anything to leave the flowers on the cactus, but I'm like you, I would remove them because they are not natural. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

 

[08SaraR]

Those plastic flowers are for newbies just starting in cactus horticulture. The plastic flowers should be easy to remove if you use cuticle trimmers to cut around the bottom of the glue. Grab the flower and pull it off with a gentle twist. I use wet cardboard to hold the cactus to keep it from getting stuck with thorns when I twist the flower off. It won't hurt anything to leave the flowers on the cactus, but I'm like you, I would remove them because they are not natural. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

Well...I got them off! Thank you so much for the suggestion! I had to heat the glue as it was extremely hard and then cut it off! But it was pressed so hard into the tops of the cactus that I couldn't cut all the way down so grabbed a pliers to pull the rest off. It took all of the spines with it but luckily the actual cactus stayed intact! Hopefully they're some resilient cacti! Lol! It still looks better now than with the plastic pieces though!

 

[08SaraR]

It looks like one could take some wire cutters to the base of those and snip, snip the plastic would be gone.

Thank you!! I was able to get the plastic off this way! The glue under was a bit more tricky but I was determined and finally got it off!

 

[Meadowlark]

... It still looks better now than with the plastic pieces though!

I guess people look at things in different ways...but I'm with you.

I don't want anything artificial, especially plastic on my plants

 

[pepper2.0]

Reminds me of my mom sticking plastic flowers in her garden bed lol. I asked why, she said they never had to be watered and never died lol!

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I would remove them because they are not natural.

Not just that, over time as they get dusty and worn, Yeuch.

 

[MiTmite9]

Well...I got them off! Thank you so much for the suggestion! I had to heat the glue as it was extremely hard and then cut it off! But it was pressed so hard into the tops of the cactus that I couldn't cut all the way down so grabbed a pliers to pull the rest off. It took all of the spines with it but luckily the actual cactus stayed intact! Hopefully they're some resilient cacti! Lol! It still looks better now than with the plastic pieces though!

If you ever have to repeat this heating up of plastic maneuver ever again ---- please make sure you're not breathing in any of the fumes. Really bad for your lungs.