Thread: cacti

I'd use salad tongs. My husband has something like pliers but have a hinged "jaw" which I use for picking cucumbers or roses.

You get those cacti bristles in your glove, you will never get them out and you will totally regret it. Do like carolaiken stated or wrap in newspaper still with the gloves on. Wrap them like when bouquets of flowers are delivered. Invest in some thick rubber long sleeved gloves

They say to repot cacti to fold a newspaper into a long tube. Wraps the tube around the cactus and twist the ends together to make a handle. I would do that AND put some gloves on as well.

And be very careful of those spindles! While in Albuquerque a few years ago, DH got poked by one in a hotel lobby. Couple of days later, very infected finger. ER folks claimed it could not possibly have been from the cactus. He had no other injuries/instances that could have caused the infection so I'm not a believer in the ER claims. Three trips to urgent care while there. Not fun.

Tongs work for me when digging up and replanting barrel and pear cacti at our ranch in west Tx.

When I had to transplant a very large cactus I used DH leather work gloves to hold it. Even though those I could still feel an occasional poke.

I've used thick leather gloves and thick brown paper. The brown paper was leftover from a reno and originally used to cover floors. Wish you luck and no blood spilled!

How about wrapping in newspaper, stapling the newspaper shut and then moving it with a Grab-it??? Thanks for mentioning this. I'm about ready to do this.