How to prune snowball pincushion

Spring — if removing or separating offsets. Use gloved hands or tongs to gently twist or cut offsets (pups) free at the base. Allow the separated offset to callous for several days before potting into dry, gritty cactus mix.

Rarely — only to remove dead growth or separate overcrowded offsets. Snowball Pincushion (Mammillaria candida) is a globular or clustering cactus that needs no pruning. Do not cut into the main body. If offsets crowd the pot, they can be carefully detached for propagation. Remove any shrivelled or dead offsets with clean, sterilised scissors. Wear gloves — spines are sharp.

Use gloved hands or tongs to gently twist or cut offsets (pups) free at the base. Allow the separated offset to callous for several days before potting into dry, gritty cactus mix.