What You’ll Want
Pruning a cactus isn’t difficult, however utilizing the correct instruments helps forestall damage and keep away from pointless injury to the plant.
The spines may cause critical damage, so some protecting gear is crucial.
Put on security glasses or goggles to guard your eyes, and use puncture-resistant gloves to protect your arms. For big or notably spiny vegetation, gloves with prolonged cuffs will even defend your forearms.
I like to make use of heavy-duty bramble gloves for extra safety and to keep away from scrapes.
Heavy-Obligation Bramble Gloves
You’ll find them in a selection of three sizes: small, medium, and huge, accessible at Garrett Wade.
A stable set of hand pruners are perfect for eradicating small stems or pads, and spent flowers. Select a product with high-quality blades that minimize cleanly with out crushing the tissue.
Extremely-Sharp Colourful Pruners
I’m fond of those colourful secateurs from Garrett Wade, which can be found in purple, sky blue, black, and rose gold.
The ultra-sharp blades have a gold-colored titanium nitride coating to assist protect sharpness.
For stems or branches which are too thick for hand pruners, use a pruning noticed. Select a mannequin with tremendous tooth, which can make smoother cuts and cut back tissue injury.
Japanese-Fashion Folding Hand Noticed
Want a pruning noticed? You’ll find a Japanese-style product with a 10-inch blade that folds right into a rubber-coated deal with accessible from Garrett Wade.
You’ll additionally want one thing to disinfect your instruments.
An isopropyl alcohol answer of not less than 70 p.c could be sprayed straight on the blades or utilized with a fabric. Enable the floor to dry earlier than persevering with.
When to Prune
The appropriate time to prune is determined by which elements you’re eradicating and why.
Spent flowers could be trimmed as quickly as they fade.
Pads or stems which are diseased, infested, broken, or gentle and mushy must be eliminated promptly to stop additional decline. Fruits could be eliminated if you wish to forestall self-seeding.
Stems rising into walkways, pads interfering with close by vegetation, or any progress that disrupts the form of the plant could be pruned at your discretion.