This is what the underside looks like. My apologies for the unfocused photo...It's the best I can do and hope it's helpful.

Please...I need an expert opinion on what to do concerning these cactus pups. They are 6 months old but don't have any roots. I would like to know whether this is normal. I'm concerned they may die and am ready to graft onto Hylocereus or Echinopsis if necessary.

Thank you so much for your input.

I would cut out the brown part of the plant, dipped the rest in rooting hormone and then in a shallow pot filled with send.
It worked for me numerous times..
Nik

Thank you for responding.

Wow, really?? "too deep a pot..."??? The pot they're in is 1.5" tall and there is nothing but 1" of cactus mix in there, probably a tablespoon in total. The pups are sitting on top of the soil, which is kept relatively dry with just a periodic misting.

As I mentioned in my initial posting, the green ones rooted just fine and they were all together all winter. There is no "ambient warmth" because they just came through a cold New York winter. Perhaps the very reason why they haven't rooted.

I'll take "cactus surprise!" I'm a little more positive and optimistic and don't consider them 'gonners' at all, because they are firm, with no soft or dessicated areas. Also, the red/brown hues are just as vibrant as the day I received them. They had just been removed from the mother plant that day. I'll be patient...that little pot is not bothering me at all.

I imagine you have experience rooting these red/brown ones in the past. How long has it normally taken? Also, have you ever grafted on onto echinopsis which, to me, they look very similar to?

All the best.

This post was edited by LatinLady on Tue, Apr 29, 14 at 23:27

Nik - Thanks for your positive response. The "brown part" isn't really brown (as in dead) at all. It's firm...just lost a little color because that's the part that was touching the soil. Should I lance the bottom in an X to give the roots a chance to form? Maybe add a tent over the pot for humidity? What do you think? It's still cold here and was actually 40 degrees today.

Nik,

I just scraped off a superficial tiny spot on the underside of one of the pups and it's red under there and very much alive. So it's not like the bottom is "dried out" or anything like that. I wonder why it never rooted?

Do you still recommend I lop off the bottom? I really don't think it's necessary. I have a tendency to believe they are still dormant due to cold weather. Please stay with me.

I never grafted plants, but few times I found cactus ( different varieties:Gymno, mamms..) struggling due to loosing roots ( probably rot that ends up drying out ), cutting the layer from the bottom and applying root hormon powder always produced roots really quickly.
I do leave in FL, and the last few I saved was this winter when nights were in 40's and days in 50's-so the temperature wasn't the factor as long as they get good light exposure.
Nik

Thank you, Nik...Because the pups are not dry at all, I am going to just lance them with an X at the bottom and add a little rooting hormone to see if they will root. I think that cross opening in the center is all they need to root. I'll let you know what happens.