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Col25
Stranger
Registered: 07/29/21
Posts: 5
Loc: South Australia
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Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help?
#27947876 - 09/13/22 08:19 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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Hi everyone, one of my san pedro cuttings and a Mexican fence post are extremely reluctant to grow roots. Both were cut about 12 months ago and started growing pups last growing season but no roots. They're planted in river sand and have been kept dry. Both are becoming noticeably dehydrated, especially the pedro.
Spring has just started here but it's still wintery. I'll probably put them back outside when it starts to warm up.
Is there anything I can do to encourage roots? Would fluoro or LED lights help, and if so what colour temperature is good for rooting and how many hours/day?
Edited by Col25 (09/13/22 08:41 AM)
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turtle_hermit
Psychedelic Ranger



Registered: 06/03/10
Posts: 1,626
Last seen: 1 day, 2 hours
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: Col25]
#27948013 - 09/13/22 10:20 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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Most cactus do not root well over the winter, particularly if it is cold where you live. There is a good write up here regarding rooting cactus cuttings. Got any pictures?
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,224
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: turtle_hermit]
#27949811 - 09/14/22 02:27 PM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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Did you plant them the right side up?
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Col25
Stranger
Registered: 07/29/21
Posts: 5
Loc: South Australia
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: modern.shaman]
#27952380 - 09/16/22 05:22 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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yeah right side up and the pups are at the top. The san pedro is a very small cutting so that doesn't help. I won't cut one down that short again. The fencepost though is a good size cutting.
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ellomello
XP



Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 2,423
Loc: babilonUSA
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: Col25]
#27953021 - 09/16/22 03:32 PM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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water the sand occasionally and let it dry out in between, provide plenty of light
-------------------- PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN get back to the garden
some came singing, some come to play, some come for keeping the dark away
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Col25
Stranger
Registered: 07/29/21
Posts: 5
Loc: South Australia
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: ellomello]
#27961936 - 09/22/22 04:55 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks Ellomello. Yes I have suspected the same. I know that some guides say not to water under any circumstances until you have roots, but after some cuttings were rained on last year I started wondering about that advice.
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CreonAntigone
Stranger

Registered: 05/30/21
Posts: 2,875
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Re: Cacti growing pups but no roots after 1 year. Would artificial light help? [Re: Col25]
#27967081 - 09/25/22 07:50 AM (1 year, 4 months ago) |
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You might try a slightly more nutrient-rich medium than sand.
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