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How to tell if a cactus is callused

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June 14, 20223 yr

I took this large cutting 3 days ago and I’m having trouble seeing if it has calloused or not. Can someone help me? Thanks!

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June 14, 20223 yr

2 hours ago, John2468 said:

I took this large cutting 3 days ago and I’m having trouble seeing if it has calloused or not. Can someone help me? Thanks!

The the surface inside the cut will resemble the look of the skin on the outside ( brownish and cracked ) when fully callused over.. If the center of the trunk is a little soft when touched, it will form a tough skin over it. Estimate that would take another 10 days to start seeing.

That said, w/ Prickly Pears, often, you can dunk cuttings in a pot ( or the ground ), soak once, and they'll usually take off ..not necessary to let them fully callus before planting. Have done this w/ this exact Opuntia and had no problems rooting pads off of it ..in fact, pads will quickly root if just laying on the surface of damp soil for a week or two. Actually need to move some of these to their own pots ( growing in w/ other stuff atm ).

Easy way to tell they're adjusting / starting to root? ..watch the pads.. They may shrivel a little when first set, but will quickly plump up as they start rooting / taking up moisture.. The callusing process itself will continue in the pot /ground as well.

A large cutting like that? you should see new pads pushing from Areoles on the older pads, & possibly from the " trunk " as well before the end of summer. Heat really speeds up this process.

Would use a gritty, and well draining soil mix. Nothing high in easily broken down Organics. W/ summer storms / higher humidity there, highly doubt you'll have to water until rooted. Notice, best rooting %'age i have w/ these, ..even some " slow poke " Opuntia is accomplished when they are placed in bright or shifting shade.

Possibly the easiest group of cacti to root from cuttings..