How to deadhead scarlet ball cactus

Scarlet Ball Cactus largely looks after itself — spent flowers dry up and drop without help, so deadheading is optional rather than a job you have to keep on top of. Snip a faded flower stalk off at its base if it looks untidy, and otherwise leave the plant alone. Removing flowers will not push it into a second flush the way it does with bedding and border perennials.

Cut the whole spent flower stalk back to where it emerges, using clean snips. Do not tear it off — a torn stalk leaves a wound that can rot back into the crown.

Whenever a flower stalk has fully dried and browned.

Pulling spent flowers off by hand. On scarlet ball cactus that tears the tissue and invites rot at the base — always cut.