Cactus transplanting

[Tackdriver]

Good News.
My neighbor does not like his cactus garden anymore.
So he says I can have some plants!!!

I can have barrel cactuses, Ocotillos, prickly pear.

How should I go about transplanting these plants?

Are there any considerations as to the root care? Should I use any special fertilzer or watering techniqes? Mulch?

Ive never had much luck transplanting stuff, and I dont want these nice plants to die or go to waste.

 

[NM Leon]

Contact the Arizona Department of Agriculture, 1688 W. Adams, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, (602)364-0935, www.agriculture.state.az.us before you transplant any native plants. It's OK to give them away (or receive them) but you have to get a permit first as they are under the Arizona Native Plant Law.

Ocotillo, barrel cactus, and various types of prickly pear are all on the "Salvage Restricted Protected Native Plants" list, as are most yuccas, saguaro, cholla, etc.

I'm sure the Dept of Ag will have a wealth of info on "how to", but a couple of tips are:

Plant the cactus in the same direction it was, i.e. the side that was facing south should still be facing south in the new location.

Use rolled up newspaper as a buffer, not only for you, but for the cactus too. You don't want the cactus stabbing itself either. Put rolled up newspaper between the ocotillo branches in particular.

Plant them in very well drained sandy soil. Some types of prickly pear might be able to adapt to well drained potting soil, but I think that would kill ocotillo or barrel cactus.

The barrel cactus in particular you don't want to water for several days after transplanting.

Ocotillo aren't really cacti and should be "watered in" when transplanted, but then allowed to completely dry out before watering again.

Hope this helps.

Leon