Expert: Maureen - 4/26/2011

Question
Hello.  Our totem pole cactus got "injured" poked by a bamboo stick and is now infected turning limp around that area and a yellow shade of green.  Is there any way to save the still healthy parts of the cactus --i.e. there is a small arm coming off, and the middle (below the injured top) is still firm and healthy green.  Can we cut out a section or the arm, and re-plant after drying?  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Dear KC,

You can cut off the infected part of the cactus with a sterilized knife back to healthy tissue, brush with fungicide and let that part callous over.  If the rest of the plant is healthy you don't need to do anything else.  If the arm is is the affected area you can cut it flush with the main plant, check for disease and if it is clean also brush with fungicide and let it dry out for about a month and then plant in a pot in a shady area.  It can take a few months to a year to root so I'd leave in the pot till next summer.  You should also develop new growth around he area you've cut off and eventually it will disguise that cut.  Just be REALLY sure you've gotten all the rot off. The tissue should be green, white, with a heathy center.  if you need to make more than one cut, sterilize the knife each time.

It should do fine.

Maureen