How to prune old lady pincushion

Spring, only if dead or rotting offsets need removal. Using gloves and a sterile blade, detach dead or rotted offsets cleanly at their base. Dust exposed tissue with powdered sulfur to prevent fungal infection, and allow the wound to dry and callous fully before resuming normal watering.

Rarely — only as needed. Old Lady Pincushion (Mammillaria matudae) is a compact clustering cactus that requires minimal pruning. No shaping is needed or beneficial. Remove only offsets or heads that have died or show signs of rot. Otherwise, leave the plant entirely undisturbed — cutting into healthy tissue causes lasting scarring.

Using gloves and a sterile blade, detach dead or rotted offsets cleanly at their base. Dust exposed tissue with powdered sulfur to prevent fungal infection, and allow the wound to dry and callous fully before resuming normal watering.