Question
QUESTION: I have a 7ft very prickly cactus in a 10in pot right now.
I live in Cincinnati, OH.  It is an indoor plant. I would like to know how would I replant this cactus without getting pricked or damaging the plant...Thank you, Lisa

ANSWER: Do you mean a columnar cactus or a prickly pear?  Do you have a photo?

Maureen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It is a columnar cactus, and my scanner is not working at this time or I would send a picture.

Answer
Dear Lisa,

This isn't the best time to transplant but if you have to, here's how.

Enlist the help of a friend or two, if possible.  Then get your supplies together.  You'll need a pot the is 1/3 the height of the plant.

Potting soil: well draining, preferably soilless, and a lot of it. Add just enough water to slightly moisten the medium if you are using a soilless mix.  It should more than easily crumble when you squeeze it.

Rolled up newspaper which you will use to hold and steady the plant as you re-pot.

A couple of stakes - tall, bamboo.

If you can get a plant stand on wheels it really help manage a large pot.

Then....cover the hole in the pot with a piece of window screening and fill the pot with mix so that when you put your plant in, it will level out at about an inch below the lip of the pot and will be flush with the base of the plant when you put in the remaining soil. Take the rolled newspaper and wrap it around the plant in a couple of strategic places so one person can hold the plant by that  to steady it, while the 2nd person either cuts the pot off or breaks it (depending on whether it's plastic or terra cotta# if you can bear losing the pot. The less you have to maneuver the plant the better. Then lift the root ball into the new pot.  Continue to hold and steady the plant while filling in the rest of the mix.  You don't need to loosen the root ball if it's healthy.  Cactus don't like to be disturbed. Tamp down the mix till the new soil is flush with the old, then let go #slightly) and see if the plant stands up straight.  If not, stake it with two stakes till it stands on it's own.

Once repotted, don't water for at least a week and then drench.  Put in bright, but not direct sunlight and only water when the soil is completely dry.  Normally cactus are dormant in the winter but with repotting, you will need to keep it in active growth for root development so will have to continue to water when the soil dries out to allow new root development, but still, DON'T OVER WATER!!  it's also a good idea to mulch with gravel.  It's helps to keep the plant warm and keep the soil moist for a bit longer.  When I have a large plant I stick one of those wooden shish-ka-bob sticks into the soil so I can check for dryness.  This is generally frowned upon in the C&S world as it is thought to disturb the roots, but I can't tell if the soil in the bottom of a large pot is still wet and would rather disturb a couple of roots than rot them.  My plants don't seem any worse for wear - just telling you for full disclosure.

If you do use a stand I wouldn't put the pot on it till after repotting unless you can lock the wheels.

You'll probably see some new growth in a month or two.

Good luck and high ceilings.  If you have any more questions, please let me know.

Maureen