How to Prune a Dog Tail Cactus

Dog-tail cactus, or Selenicereus testudo, is a variety of flowering cactus native to the tropical forests of southern Mexico and Central America. As an epiphyte, dog-tail cactus grows naturally in trees, but the trailing, segmented stems work well in hanging baskets, and it will grow well as a houseplant if provided with a well-draining potting medium and a source of bright light. Like most succulents, dog-tail cactus benefits from occasional pruning to maintain its shape and overall health, but it should only be done if the leaves are beginning to yellow or the stems have suffered damage.

Things You'll Need

• Leather work gloves
• Bypass shears

Instructions

1. Put on leather work gloves before working with dog-tail cacti since they have sharp spines that might cause injury.

2. Inspect the dog-tail cactus for damaged or yellowed leaves, as well as branches that are stunted or failing to thrive. Locate the jointed segment where the damaged leaf connects to a healthy leaf.

3. Break the joint between the damaged and healthy leaf, or sever it with a pair of bypass pruners. Prune only at the segment joints of the leaves to avoid damaging the dog-tail cactus. Discard the pruned leaves.

4. Water the dog-tail cactus thoroughly after pruning. Watch for signs of new, healthy growth at the pruned ends of the leaves in six to eight weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not compost the pruned leaves since they may contain infectious pathogens; throw them in a green-waste bin instead.