Others will come along to offer more specific/better advice but in my experience it sometimes takes months before roots appear. Four weeks may not be enough time. As I understand it, most people suggest: no roots, no water.

I've had luck by setting them on gravel in a shallow container with water on the bottom not touching the plants. The roots emerge seeking out the water. Someone on this board suggested it.

Seems like it took months for the roots to grow, but they did grow. I agree that a month is probably not long enough.

I don't know how different it is for cacti vs succulents like Graptosedum or Echeveria, but the leaves & cuttings I have sitting on a paper towel on a windowsill have grown roots like crazy. I haven't misted/watered them or anything.

Succulents, whether cuttings or pups, rooted much easier... I know cacti wont root in three days like Kalanchole cuttings, but still. #3 is two months old. I don't expect it to have big great roots, but some would be nice. #4, the cutting, rooted, and it was planted the same time as #3.

And the #2 has roots, but they're kinda frozen...

Maybe I'll try to put them on gravel. I'm afraid the bugs I found on #4 are still in the soil, and they might attack pups too, so I have to move them to another pot anyway.

Maria

What kind of bugs did you find in soil? It may be wise not to reuse infected soil, since it could hold many eggs too. Either wash it in bleach solution (really works well if you are using gritty, mostly inorganic mix) or toss and use fresh mix.

Kinda like mealybugs, but pink. Not many, maybe five, and only in the roots of #4.

I'm going to toss the soil; it's only a cup of it, not much loss. The pups will get pure gravel in some shallow dish, and I'll just... place them somewhere where they won't catch my eye too much... forget about them for some time...

Benign neglect is good :)

Hi, You can try this method.

Sorry should have rotate yhe image. Extra small clay balls. Just mist the clay balls ( or moist it) plant you pups.

The above experiment work well for howathia also. This one roots was rotted and shrinking with no roots. With this method the roots appear in about 2 weeks.

Moist the clayballs when it's totally dry. (Note: not wet) damp is fine.

Hope this help. You also can see some of my post saving cactus or re rooting cactus or howathia

I only have 8-12 mm leca, 2-5 mm aquarium gravel, or perlite. Which would work best?

Closest your options, will be perlite.

Thanks, everyone :)

I moved pups to pure perlite in a shallow dish. I hope they'll develop some roots, especially #1 and #2, as those are the only cacti of those species I have.