How to move a (very) tall cactus?

Hi,

We are moving from North Carolina to Florida in August. I am attaching two photos of our tall, skinny cactus... so tall and skinny that I couldn't get it in one frame! Suffice it to say it has been benignly neglected for many years and is now about 12 feet tall, but only about 4 inches in diameter. Do we have any chance of moving it successfully? If so, HOW? What about cropping it?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

thats not a cactus, its a euphorbia, even so, i would chop it right down to a foot or two, then put it outside in Florida.

it should grow much better outdoors.

i just moved across town and had to hack off a 6 foot san pedro cactus because it wouldn't fit on the uhaul

the cutting it rooting. the base is already pupping

 

Agree - that's a Euphorbia, and you can cut it down and re-root the cuttings so I wouldn't be too concerned about trying to move it whole. Just wait for the cuttings to dry on the cut end before you pot them up, and then don't water for several weeks.

And yes, outdoors with it! And its pups! It will be amazingly happy in natural sun and watered by rain.

 

Thanks! Now, how about advice on cropping. Cutting it in half would still result in two plants that are too tall and skinny. Should I crop it off in sections? I could probably get 5 2-foot plants! And how do I root the cropped plants? I read somewhere they need to dry out first? A 16-hr drive to Florida could certainly achieve that with no problem!!

 

Wow! You guys are fast! Thanks so much!

 

You could easily have 5 two-footers, or 10 one-footers. So long as the piece is at least 6" long, it should regenerate.

And yes, a 16 hour drive to FL should dry them sufficiently to be able to plant out when you get there. They've got about a 2-week open time for me here in Ecuador, which is comparable humidity-wise.

 

Muchas gracias.

 

No piensa de nada!

 

i would do various sized cuttings...with a couple of the same size...would make for a nice grouping at your new home. you could also do two groupings of 3 or 4 pieces in two different spots in the yard...or even keep a couple in a pot inside.

 

Can I actually plant them in the ground, or should I keep them in pots outside also?

 

If you're going to be in FLA, they can go in the ground.

 

lorax is right...in florida you can put them right in the ground...only pot them if you want to still keep some inside.

 

Thanks so much. You've all been so helpful!

 

That's why we're here!