Question
I have a 30 year old cactus that is about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and about 2 feet tall.  It fell today and the top two inches broke off, the rest of the cactus is OK.  I have placed the top of the broken piece back onto the cactus.  Will this kill the cactus?  Should I just have left just let the broken piece off?  What would I then do with the original cactus?  Will it heal itself?

Answer
Hi Lanette,

Most Cacti have a remarkable ability to recover from the type of damage you described. If your Cactus is healthy and not in a dormant period, then grafting the broken piece back into place should work as long as the exposed tissue did not dry out in the interim. Just be sure the top piece is steady and does not get displaced by any movement. This grafting may take several months.

If the top piece does not graft and starts to shrivel, then remove it. The main part of the Cactus will heal over on its own and in time you will not even remember the accidental damage.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC