On Wednesday, March 13, 2013 12:28:22 PM UTC-7, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 12/03/2013 21:06, Higgs Boson wrote:

Somebody gave me this cactus that had become too crowded for their pot.



It has a lot of projections that must have reminded some taxonomist of an important part of the female anatony.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammillaria_elongata



If it's OK to divide, any special precautions? (Aside from not getting pricked)



TIA





Cut however many stems you want to propagate. Use a sharp, clean knife.

Allow the cut to dry for a few days in a dry, but not too warm place.

It does not need any rooting powder or antifungal powder on the cut

surface if the cut was clean. When dry, push the cut end gently onto

clean dry sharp sand (coarse sand) until it is a few mm deep. If

necessary, support it with a few thin sticks such as toothpicks. Leave

in a cool place with good light (not direct sunlight if possible) for a

couple of months.



At the end of that time have a look to see if roots have formed. If

not, leave for another couple of months. If they have formed, pot up in

"cactus compost", or very free-draining soil with added grit. Water

very sparingly, and leave in good light in a warm place.



--



Jeff

Thanks to you and David Ross.

Does it matter if stem is taken from inside the plant or from periphery -- except for cosmetic reasons?

TIA

HB