Expert: Maureen - 1/9/2010

Question
Hello

  I have a cactus or maybe an euphorbia, yesterday she fell off the table and 2 of her arms were injured and the top was snapped off almost completly. So I cut all the injured piecesoff. From what I see here I should let them dry for about 2 weeks before I replant them ? The reason I believe that it is a euphorbia is that it bleed a white substance when it was injured. Will my plant be ok... and will the main branch heal and maybe regrow @ the top?

Answer
It does sound like a Euphorbia because of the milky substance - which can be an irritant to your skin so be careful.  I'd have to see a picture to be sure.   The main branch should callous and off shoots will most likely grow around that area, not out of it.

I don't know what you mean by injured, but if you have breaks in those pieces, cut off the broken part, dust the fresh cut with rooting powder, or charcoal dust to prevent any fungus from forming and let that callous as well as the end you originally cut off when the plant fell. Yes, let it callous for a couple of weeks and then repot.

If you have picture, I'd have a better idea of what you're  talking about.  So send one if you can.

Good luck and so sorry about your plant but al is not lost.