Question
I have a Mexican fence Post cactus that I move outdoors in the summer and back indoors in the fall.  (I live in southern Wisconsin)  It has grown too tall to move back indoors.  Is is possible to cut the top of the cactus off without killing it? If so, how do i go about doin this?  Will it heal itself?  Can I transplant the part that I cut off?

Answer
Dear Dawn,

I thought I would answer your questions one by one, see below:

Is is possible to cut the top of the cactus off without killing it? Yes, however it will branch from where you cut it, so you'll want to cut off enough so your not making new cuts every year.

If so, how do i go about doin this?  Depending on how thick your plant is, use either a knife or a hack saw. Cut about 2 feet off the top.

Will it heal itself?  Yes, the main stem and the cut parts will heal in about 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I transplant the part that I cut off? Yes, after the cut parts heal, you can plant them about 6 inches deep in a "cactus mix" type of soil. They will take a month or more to root so be patient. Also, water them only when the soil is dry.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg