I know that Plant Week was last week, but I got to Atlanta last Wednesday and realized that I forgot to shoot this fail-proof tip. Soooooo I guess its Plant Week + 1 day!
I’ve tried a lot of different ways of handling cactus for planting. Everything from leather gloves to salad tongs. But the problems are always the same. If I actually touch the cactus (even wearing gloves) I always get poked. Those little suckers work their way through the gloves no matter how thick they seem. And if I try to plant without touching it (like using tongs) I don’t ever have enough control over the situation. Especially if there is more than one growth on the cactus.
But necessity is the mother of invention, and I had a lot of planting to do for Plant Week. And most of all I didn’t want to spend $20 on a pair of leather gloves that would get filled with microscopic needles that would have to be trashed 5 minutes later.
I looked around my kitchen and came up with a pretty great solution.
All you need for poke-less cactus planting is a paper grocery bag!!
Cut it in 1/2.
Fold the bottom in 1/2. This is where your hand will go when you hold the cactus.
Trim down the length and you are done!
Seriously that’s it!! If your cactus is really heavy you might want to double up on the bags, but for smaller cacti one is totally sufficient. The long sharp needles don’t go through.
And the teeny furry ones (that are actually the spawn of Satan if you were unaware) don’t stand a chance.
This way you can hold the cactus, loosen the roots and move it around as much as you need to without getting poked!
I once spent a week transplanting cutting of Prickly Pear cactus – it was my job at the time – and those little hairy pickers are truly the spawn of Satan.
Yes! This is much better than me using my oven mitts.
Good tip! I use a cheap pair of ski gloves. Now that I don’t know where they are anymore, I think I’ll have to try the paper bag route 😉
Love this tip!!!
http://www.sweetlytattered.com
Mandie what a great idea. My daughter has asked for a cacti for her room, I’ve been avoiding her request because I didn’t want to deal with being poked.
You, dear lady, are truly brilliant on every level! But alas you have taken away my primal fear of the the spawns of Satan and one of the only type of plants I don’t hoard, I mean collect! Plus I have all the wonderful containers they would be so amazing in. Oh I am in big trouble! Thank you for the wonderful trick!
I think? 😀 <3
This. Is. Awesome. I’m going to embarrass myself a little here – when I was a child I SAT on a cactus and it was one of the most painful things ever, so I definitely know the pain a cactus can inflict. Very helpful tip.
I usually use good ol’ regular gardening gloves for the job. This is definitely a good and inexpensive alternative!
When the prickers do get in your fingers, run your hand in your hair. It actually works.
THANK YOU!!
Hi, Mandi, It’s a Great Post! Thanks to share it brilliant idea for handling cactus for planting & make a paper grocery bag.
Years ago I read that you can fold up newspaper thickly into a strip and wrap around the pokey critter. Works great too.
I do this but put a thick layer of paper towels in between the cactus and cardboard/paper bag that I use as a barrier. Sometimes I get a little grabby and I find the paper towels to be a good cushion between my man handling and the delicate spines.
Brazilliant.
I also use this way: take an old towel/rag and wrap it around cactus with the end meeting together loosely…use the end to hold the cactus. Works great!
http://www.annlanglois.com
I use kitchen tongs (reserved just for planting).
Im goin to try it 2nite. I havent transplanted my cacti for fear of getting them lil buggers in my fingers n hand. Will let u kno how it worked.
Tania! Use a paper bag to transplant it!! I’ve got a post on the blog about it!!