Dick Morris
The cactus was not harmed by the cuts, but the plant now has an ugly appearance.
Q: What did my hubby just do? Before asking me, he sliced my saguaro below the seams. Although the tree, not my husband, appeared somewhat ill, he nonetheless cut it. I’m going to completely chop those pieces up.
A: Judging by your photos, I don’t believe your cactus to be a saguaro. I believe it to be a columnar cactus, also known as a climbing cactus. Well, the plant has suffered a setback because of the unpleasant appearance of the cuts. Although the plant doesn’t care, it is ugly to look at.
If I’m correct and this is a climbing cactus, those wounds result in new growth that emerges from the ribs just below the cut. The cuts will compel columns to sprout on the sides and continue to rise.
A different choice is to cut off all the broken stems up to a few inches of the ground. Below the incision, let them sucker and regrowth. If it appears bad, remove the entire arm that is affected. For planting, cut these removed columns or arms into 12-inch-long segments. Before planting, let them in the shade for one to two weeks to allow the cuts to heal.
Plant them (not upside-down) in soil that has been treated with compost after two weeks, with about a third of the 12 inches sticking in the ground. Once they develop roots, a stake will keep them standing so they won’t topple over. To keep the soil dry between irrigations, water every two to three weeks.
Allow the uncut columns to swell further and lean against an upright object. If the cactuses don’t freeze back during a bitterly cold winter, they’ll grow tall.
Some of the columns in your photograph appeared to have been harmed by strong sunlight. The injury was causing the columns to generate a lot of new side growth. With adjusted soil and placement in a spot that receives some shade from the waning afternoon sun, this cactus will grow much more successfully. It could be a good idea to relocate it and let it lean right now.
A: About 17 years ago, I planted a Sophora secundiflora in my backyard. Today, I discovered a bug infestation on many of the stems, which to me appears to be a kind of scale. Below the infected stems, the stems and leaves appear damp and sticky. Also damp and sticky are the pavers that are directly below the plant.
A: You’re right, that’s true. Scale insects are the cause of the brown, rounded lumps on the stems. I had never seen these on a mountain laurel in Sophora, Texas, and I could find no other accounts of scale insects on this tree.
Aphids and scale insects both serve as food for ant colonies. Most of it is sugar made from plant sap. You are perceiving a sticky, moist quality. Because of this sweet, sticky wetness, ants have a vested incentive in defending and colonizing ant and scale populations.
Repeated horticultural oil stem sprays are the most efficient way to control scale insects. Several applications of these sprays should be made during the cooler parts of the growing season. In the same region, use this spray in conjunction with ant control.
Ants transport scale insects to various plant parts and even new plants, much like they do with aphids. They aid in the proliferation of scale insects in trees and shrubs and can, in a matter of months, transform a minor issue into a significant one.
In areas where there are issues, use a poison bait to manage ants. There is no need for a control treatment if there are no issues. Ants benefit plants by defending them from other insects.
Amdro, an ant bait pesticide, has been successful in stopping the proliferation of aphids by eradicating ant colonies. There is no reason, in my opinion, why this medication wouldn’t also stop the spread of scale insects. Amdro ant bait is available at any garden center or nursery.
The majority of our ants are found in underground nests. Spread 15 to 20 granules on top of an ant mound, then locate the opening(s) in the soil where these ant colonies are located. The entire population of ants is wiped off in 24 to 48 hours after the ants carry this poisoned bait into their underground nest. For it to operate, the area where it is applied needs to be dry for 24 to 48 hours. Before using this product, make sure the label corresponds to the requirements at your location.
If the temperature is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit and there are no blossoms, horticultural oils are sprayed from top to bottom over the tree. During the growing season, applying this spray three or four times again nearly completely eradicates scale insects.
Spray the tree with soap and water seven to ten days after applying horticultural oil. Any immature nymphs who eluded the oil treatment are killed by soap and water showers. Keep in mind that sprays made of soap and water, like those made of oil, kill all insects, whether they are good or harmful. Sprays of oil, soap, and water should only be directed at trouble spots.
A: Since there isn’t much information in the query, I’ll give a general answer. According to the images included with this communication, the fruit trees are brand-new plantings that have been whitewashed and had their center stems cut to about waist height.
This tree has to be staked securely in place if it was just planted bareroot, without a container, to prevent roots from shifting during the first few months of growth. Strong, long-term roots is encouraged by firmly anchoring the tree in one location.
For better rooting and drainage, I suppose the soil was modified with compost at the time of planting. To contain water from a hose, create a 2 to 3 foot wide doughnut or moat around the tree. To level the soil around the roots and get rid of air pockets, water the tree with a hose once per day for three straight days.
Water every other day during the hottest months of the year once that is accomplished. To allow the roots to breathe, make sure to wait at least one day before watering. Daily watering for a month could smother the roots, kill the tree, or at the absolute least make it sickly.
A tree’s bareroot roots quickly dry out and perish. These vital roots are tiny, not huge, and draw water and nutrients from the earth. These little roots quickly dry out and perish. These roots are overly dried, which leads to transplant shock and sluggish development after planting.
Trees that are bareroot might be picky. No longer are bareroot trees frequently offered to households. Only seasoned gardeners ought to purchase these. From the time the trees leave the nursery until they are planted, the roots of these trees must be maintained moist.
After planting, bareroot trees with extremely dry roots frequently experience a brief burst of new growth before dying. New growth dying off suggests a water shortage. And it is, in fact. Because the roots have withered, new growth cannot receive water from them.
If you believe this to be the truth, observe what transpires after planting. If you don’t notice any new growth after roughly two months, the tree is dead and needs to be replaced.
In October, my 12-inch-diameter dwarf Genoa lemon tree will turn two years old. I want to bury it in the earth. Is it still a good idea?
A: Planting it in the ground is a fantastic idea, but not just now. The absolute worst time to relocate fruit trees is late spring. The hot weather will arrive soon. Wait until the weather begins to cool off from the scorching summer months in mid- to late-September.
Without a doubt, fall is the finest season for planting and replanting. Though it comes in second, spring is when the majority of flora are in bloom.
When moving, take as many of the roots with you as you can. Prepare a fresh hole and add soil amendments to it. After planting, use this soil mixture to backfill around the roots.
Plant it as soon as you can once you’ve dug. To hold water from a hose, create a moat around the tree. Three times over the course of three days, give it a good hose-down. Remove the moat and use your automatic irrigation system to water the area instead.
How should a cactus arm be replanted?
Carefully handle the cactus portion to prevent finger stabs. When moving the sharp object, use heavy-duty gloves, tongs, or a folded piece of newspaper wrapped around it. If the object is spiky, avoid touching it with your hands. The cut end of the cactus should be pressed into the soil mixture. If the branch is large, bury the cactus’ base until the branch is supported by the dirt.
How is a little saguaro cactus planted?
The safest and simplest technique to propagate Saguaro cactus is from seeds, even though it can take a while for results to appear. But don’t be alarmed! In just a few minutes, you can get your young cactus’ propagation environment ready.
Pick a little or medium-sized container with drainage holes, then put potting soil inside. You can either search for any well-draining mix or just buy one made for growing cacti and succulents. Make a number of tiny holes about an inch apart with a sharp pencil, then bury your Saguaro seeds there. Put plastic wrap over the container and make a few tiny holes in it.
Make sure the pot is situated in a warm location that offers it ample light while shielding it from prolonged exposure to full, direct sunshine. After four to six weeks, take off the plastic wrap and water the cactus seeds every ten days. Following this time, you can water the cactus once a month.
In around one or two years, when each Saguaro cactus may be moved in its own pot, you will start to observe small Saguaro cacti. Gardener, be patient! You’ll realize that the wait was worthwhile once you see how adorable these young cactus are.
Can you plant a portion of cactus that has been chopped off?
A loved cactus plant might quickly lose a portion due to overly active kids, scavenging animals, an accidental bump, or an unplanned incident. You need not worry if it occurs to you because you are not required to discard the chopped piece.
Even if the main plant can still survive if a portion of its stem is lost, it may seem wasteful to toss the broken piece and ignore the rest.
Can you then cut a chunk off of a cactus and plant it? Yes is the clear-cut response. Cuttings can be used to grow a sizable number of cacti species. Hedgehog, prickly pear, and branching columnar cacti like the night-blooming cereus are a few of the common cactus species that are typically reproduced via cuttings.
Don’t discard the broken piece if your cactus accidently breaks off a portion of it. Instead, replant it from seed and let it grow.
How do you re-root a cactus fragment?
Large desert cactus, such as the prickly pear (Opuntia spp. ), can be rooted either indoors or outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3b through 11. Usually, smaller desert plants are rooted in flower pots. One-third to one-half of the pad or stem should be buried, bottom end down, in the potting media after making a small hole in it. Place in a warm environment with filtered light that is bright. Wait to water the plant until the roots start to form.
Can you replant a saguaro with a broken arm?
Barrell, saguaro, and ocotillo cacti can all be transplanted successfully throughout the year, with the exception of the winter rainy season when the chilly temperatures and wetness encourage the decay of young transplants. Under 5 feet, saguaro and barrel cacti can be moved by hand.
Can you plant a saguaro’s arm?
Six to ten new saguaros can be rooted from the arms of one senior saguaro that has been burned. They have a 20 to 30 year advantage over saguaros that sprang from seeds since many of the arms are 2 to 5 feet tall when rooted. At this time, I have successfully rooted more than 50 saguaro arms, several of which are more than 1.5 years old.
What causes saguaro arms to die off?
Within a 10-mile radius of her home in Ahwatukee, where Shari Keith, a KJZZ listener, lives, there are 17 fallen saguaro cacti. She was curious as to what was happening to saguaros because some others had lost arms or appeared to be unwell.
According to Raul Puente, a research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden, saguaros and other cacti in the Valley are under a lot of stress. Many factors contribute to saguaros falling, losing arms, or becoming discolored, including dehydration, excessive sun exposure, and high temperatures that persist through the night.
They should be able to adapt to the desert environment, according to Puente. “However, this summer has been particularly extreme this year.
Puente compared saguaros to accordions, saying that they shrivel up when they lose moisture. In comparison to most trees and other huge plants, they also have shorter roots. Cacti can topple over if given too little or too much water.
Can a saguaro be moved on my property?
Only if the person has records of a prior legal movement of the cactus by them or if the department is aware of such movement, may a person move a saguaro cactus without first getting a permit, tag, and seal.
Carefully insert a 6-foot stake into the hole. Once the stake is in place, use a shovel to scoop the soil back into the hole. The stake should be buried about halfway to prevent bending from the weight of the cactus. To hold the cactus straight, pick a stake made of a robust material, such as bamboo or hardwood.
Cut off the tape’s loose ends with a pair of scissors after tying a loose knot in it. Avoid wrapping the cactus with the tape too firmly. If you tie too firmly, you risk damaging the surface and inviting pests and infections.