cacti
 

Hi all,
An odd question for something that may be a staple for quilters. I've never bought these so I'm not sure how they work.

To the point, I have a couple of cacti (we've had them for about 6 years now) in a shallow inside garden pot (Alaska) that have been outgrowing their pot for quite some time. Right now, their spindles are very sharp and I want to repot the poor things for more room.

Will the gloves quilters wear to avoid rotary cutting themselves work?

Any help would be appreciated. I want to get them into an environment they can thrive in.

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

Thick newspaper, many layers, place carefully around cacti. I use string or elastic band to hol paper in place, make sure it won't slide off. Bigger pot with plenty of space. Put parcel in hole and fill with cactus soil. Don't forget you can't fill in soil after you move paper. It's a tricky job.

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.

Thanks so much! I'm off to go buy that thing called a newspaper ;)

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!