Propagating Cactus

[Tjohn]

I have a cactus of an unknown variety. It is 14 ft tall and periodically puts out new arms which tend to shrivel at the ends and fall off. Some, however, have become very large on their own and are threatening to unbalance the whole mess. The arms have what looks like roots coming from the wrong side of the joints. If I wrap these in a rooting medium, where would I disconnect it from the main plant? I tried to take a picture, but it doesn't show up very well. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Jan]

That's some cactus, 14' wow, I have some small ones, when they grow babies I just break them off and lay on top of gritty compost, they seem to take very quickly.

Please try another photo, I'd love to see that one.

 

[alp]

Detach the new bits and grow them. I also removed the flower pods and used the seeds inside to have new plants, but that takes ages.

 

[Tjohn]

Here's what I'm working with

 

[Jan]

Oh my!

 

[alp]

Can you show the joint where the young bits grow out of the old bit. I don't have cactus like this. For one with a longer bit, I just tear off the young bits along the joint and plant the new bits. They take.

 

[Jan]

That's what I do but I wonder just how long his long bits are. We don't have them this big here, well I don't anyway

 

[Tjohn]

The middle picture on top is where the new stem came out and then grew "roots". Most of the new arms start out just a few inches long, but I have some that are over 6 ft.