I have been lucky enough to acquire 2 of these lovely cacti... I think they are Euphorbia Trigonas. In any case, they are both 7 feet tall and barely manageable. I would like to trim them down but have been warned their milky sap-stuff pours out and the odour is unpleasant. That doesn't bother me... what does is.... is it okay to trim them down... it appears as though it has been previously done and they then get these shoots in those areas and apparently this cactus grows like stink (so-to-speak). Help and I have a picture if anyone wants to help me be sure. It is 6 a.m. on Wednesday, I am usually here 24/7 but today will be out till noon, hence my responses will lapse until that time. I would appreciate any help you can offer. Cheers, Jane Ja.ne@shaw.ca
You can absolutely cut them back, and it won't hurt them a bit; leave the top pieces to scab over, and then you can replant those as well.
Dear Lorax Thanks for this; I am hoping the tops will not end up looking awful but I will be cutting off a couple of feet... any tips regarding the sap that runs out when you cut them ....can it be used in the watering or?? (yeh, probably a dumb question but i had to ask) Jane
The sap that runs might be caustic to you; I'd say wear rubber gloves and do the trimming outdoors so that it doesn't stain your carpets or hardwood. Euphorb sap is a latex-type thing, and so far as I can tell it's only soluble in meths or turpentine (ie paint thinner) so you don't really want to get it into carpeting, etc. However, once it's dried it will callous over and it won't look too hideous.
