Planting and Rooting Cacti Cuttings ~*

In my experience, the biggest thing is to just leave them alone after planting. There's no need to over complicate matters. You can use cacti potting mix, sand, just regular potting mix and combinations with other additives like perlite etc aswell for most cacti, pretty much whatevers on hand. Or just plant them in the garden. They don't like to be water logged so good drainage is a must, especially when rooting a cutting and in colder climates. Once rooted however most can handle alot of water, especially Trichos.

Make sure that any cut has fully calloused before planting, that is very important to prevent rot issues. You don't need to plant very deep just enough to support the plant, or you could just throw a log on the ground too if you want, will most likely root and grow just fine without you doing a thing. That's the thing with these plants, they are hard to kill, they're survivors.

If I'm planting a cutting in a pot I just use regular potting mix, some perlite if on hand mixed through and add some slow release ferts to the soil. I always put an inch thick layer of gravel at the bottom of my pots to improve drainage. Plant the cutting deep enough to support it and water, leave in a shaded area undercover and give a little water every 2 or so weeks, less in winter, until I see new growth, then they go out with the rest and get treated the same. I never check for roots, I just assume they have rooted and I've never lost one yet.

If I'm planting in the garden I only do it in late spring, summer or early autumn. Just plant in the ground again deep enough to support it and give a little water every 2 weeks or so. You can also just lay a cutting down on it's side if in a large pot, or in the garden, and in time it will root and grow just fine.

I recommend also putting rock or a mulch or something on top of the soil around your cacti too, after trying to weed around a nice spikey Bridgesii without it, you'll know why..

It can take cacti months to root and start growing so you have to be patient, and resist the urge to fuck with it. Disturbing the plant will only slow things down if not completely halt them for a while. Cacti thrive on neglect, so don't over love them, and they'll be fine.

In the 1st pic below is a couple of cuts planted straight out in the garden, next different sized cuts of the same Pachanoi plant potted and rooting, getting ready to be grafting stock. Then an example of rooted side planting with some pups shooting out and laslty an Opuntia cutting I placed in the ground under a tree, now rooted and happily growing away, enjoy :)