What’s the big deal with the long-form penis cactus, and why have we dedicated a whole video to showing you how to propagate it? The long-form, or Type A, penis cactus isn’t just harder to find - it requires a more careful approach when propagating.

In this guide, we’re going to go over our step-by-step process for taking stem cuttings from mother plants, how we plant those cuttings, and how we care for the cuttings afterward. Soon you’ll be enjoying a whole lot more penis cactus than you bargained for!

Tools

To propagate a penis cactus, you will need:

• A sharp knife

• 91% isopropyl alcohol

• A healthy mother plant, ideally with multiple nodes

How to Propagate

Now, let’s go over the steps we take to propagate a long-form penis cactus.

Step 1: Sterilize

Take your 91% isopropyl alcohol and sterilize your cutting tool to reduce the chances of introducing harmful bacteria to your plants.

Step 2: Visualize

Now this is the part where you need to pay attention. You want to find a spot to cut that will leave areoles on both the cutting and the mother plant. If you don’t have areoles, then there won’t be any places for new offsets to grow from.

Step 3: Make the Cut

Take a sharp, clean cutting tool and cut across the stem in a straight line. Watch out for the spines and the areoles that you visualized earlier.

Step 4: Callus

Let the cut end of the cactus callus for at least two weeks. This rough scab will form and protect the plant from excess moisture, and greatly reduce the chances that your cutting will rot. 

Step 5: Plant

Get a pot with drainage that is big enough to anchor the plant in, but not so big that the soil will stay waterlogged for too long. You want the cactus to be as snug as possible without toppling over.

Plant your cutting in well-draining soil that contains at least 50% inorganic material. Don’t worry if you need to bury the areoles under the soil; new growth will still emerge. It’s more important that the cutting is securely anchored. The last thing you want is to cause extra stress by having the cutting fall out of the soil when you move it, and by needing to repot again.

Place your cutting in a bright, warm spot. After about 2 weeks, water lightly and allow for a long dry-out period of about 2-3 weeks. Then your next watering should be a little deeper with another full dry out. You may gradually introduce watering amount and frequency as the plant becomes established and forms roots.

Tips

• Ensure you are rooting during the right time of year, during the growing season, from Spring through Summer, with ample light.

• A little bit of brown fungal spotting is totally normal to see. Our cuttings got some while callusing because it was a particularly humid week, but it wasn’t an issue at all. 

  

• Bright green growth at the tip is a sign that you’re getting healthy growth, so you don’t have to pull the plant out of the soil to check the roots. 

  

• These are slower to root than your average trichocereus so be patient. Monitor your conditions and what the plant is showing you, and err on the side of underwatering, as they are very fungal-prone. It’s normal for the cutting to become very deflated/shriveled during the rooting process, but rest assured, once roots are fully formed, they will plump back up.

Summary

Propagating long-form penis cacti can be a more challenging project because of their lack of areoles, less frequent offsets, and slowness to root, but with practice and patience, you can get the hang of it in no time. Remember: make sure you leave areoles on both the mother plant and the cutting. Remember to sterilize your tools and give the cuttings time to callus before planting. Soon, you’ll have more penis cactus than you’ll know what to do with!