If you’ve been growing several cacti together in one pot, you’ll eventually notice things getting a little crowded in there. To make sure these prickly survivors don’t end up poking and damaging each other with those sharp spines, it’s time to give them some breathing room and separate them.
The Best Time to Split Your Cacti
The best time to schedule this “plant divorce” is in the spring. Right after their refreshing winter dormancy, cacti are in the best possible shape to handle the stress of being divided. Because this process can be pretty taxing on them, you should never try to separate or prune your cacti while they are in the middle of their active growth phase.
One quick heads-up: If you have any flowering cacti, wait until they’re done blooming. If you mess with them while they’re showing off, they might react by dropping all those beautiful blossoms prematurely.
How to Successfully Separate Your Cacti
If your cacti are growing in a gritty, mineral-based cactus mix, separating them is usually a breeze. It gets a bit trickier if they were planted in a substrate with a high peat content. Peat-heavy soil tends to compact and cling tightly to the roots.
Whatever you do, don’t just yank the plants apart! Treat the roots with care and follow these steps:
- First, gently pull the entire group of cacti out of the pot together.
- Lay them out on a wire rack or mesh screen for about three days so the soil can dry out completely.
- Once the substrate is bone-dry, you can easily shake it off or use a wooden chopstick to poke it away.
- Now you can carefully separate the cacti using a pair of clean tongs or pliers.
Dealing with Stubborn Root Balls
If the roots are so tightly tangled that they won’t budge, try rinsing the root ball under a gentle stream of lukewarm water. This washes away the dirt and gives you a clear view of what you’re working with.
With a clear view, you can untangle the plants while keeping root damage to a minimum. Don’t worry too much if a few small roots snap—with proper care, they’ll grow back in no time.
Post-Separation Aftercare
Once the cacti are finally separated, they’ll need a little “spa time” to recover from the stress. Let your desert dwellers rest in a warm, shady spot for a few days. After this recovery period, they’ll be ready to be potted up individually in their new homes.
