Question
Hi Greg,

I inherited several plants when my mother passed away. One was a crown of thorns. Everything was fine and then all of a sudden some of the branches became "soggy" and died. I read up on it and I think I over-watered it. It's now about half the size it was and I want to save the rest of it. Any ideas?
The second question is, I have cacti(several in a pot). The tallest one, about 3 feet, fell over this morning. It's still attached but I don't know what to do. I know it's needs to be re-potted but I'm not sure how to do it without being stuck to death. I really need help on this one.
These plants are very important to me as they were my mother's.
Can you help? I would be so grateful.
Thanks,
Sheri Augostini


Answer
Sheri,

You can try to make some cuttings from your "crown of thorns", just make sure you make the cuts above any dead areas. Let them sit for at least a couple of weeks to "heal" prior to planting. Make sure to use a cactus mix type of soil and plant the cuttings about an inch deep. Water it, then do water again until the soil is dry. Water it only when the soil is dry, even once it has rooted. It may take quite a while to root, so be patient.

On your other plant, the easiest way to handle it will be to take an old towel you don't need anymore, and wrap your plant with it. Now you should be able to handle it the way you need to without damaging it or you. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg