Question
I believe that is the name, it was a green stock with a red prickley ball on the top.  I recieved it in first grade and a few years later, the ball dried up. I still have it and the ball is still attached but it is dried up and yellow/brown. Also, parts of the stock dried up and deteriorated and you can see the root at the bottom. On all 4 sides though, it sprouted arms and they have gotten  very long. Each arm has roots sticking out. I tried putting a pot under one of the arms to see if it would root and grow but I don't really think it has done anything. Some roots have grown out of where the arms have sprouted. Some of the arms even have sprouted arms at the end. Is there any way I can use this to start a new cactus that will produce another red ball because my plant is 12 years old now and I really like the idea that I have had to through all my school years. Here are links to a few pictures of my cactus so you can see it better than I could describe it.

Reading more, I am guessing that the red part was part of a graft? Could you let me know if there is anything I could do to make my cactus less overwhelming?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/KJHoffman87/img_003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/KJHoffman87/img_002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/KJHoffman87/img_001.jpg


Answer
Dear Kevin,

Unfortunately it won't, because the "red ball" was actually a completely different cactus grafted on to what have still growing. Here is a website that explains the process: http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/grafted_cacti.htm

The only way to get your "red ball" back will be to buy another one. The reason it is red in the first place is that the plant is irradiated, which changes the color of the chlorophyll from green to red. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Greg