How to prune snowcap cactus

Spring, if removal of dead or diseased offsets is necessary. Wearing thick gloves, gently twist or use a sterile blade to remove dead or rotting offsets at their base. Dust any cut surface with sulfur or charcoal powder and let callous in a dry location for a day or two before placing back in normal conditions.

Rarely — only when dead or diseased growth appears. Snowcap Cactus (Mammillaria geminispina) is a small clustering cactus that needs no routine pruning. The only time to intervene is when individual heads (offsets) are dead, rotting, or so crowded they promote disease. Dead offsets can be gently detached or cut free with a sterile blade.

Wearing thick gloves, gently twist or use a sterile blade to remove dead or rotting offsets at their base. Dust any cut surface with sulfur or charcoal powder and let callous in a dry location for a day or two before placing back in normal conditions.