Cacti propagation
These plants can be easily propagated from branches and offshoots. If you are going to propagate cacti, you should remove offshoot from the plant and let it to dry for about 2 weeks. When the broken or cut part of the plant has healed, put it cautiously in dry soil. When cutting, you should use a clean and sharp knife. If you are taking a few parts from one long stem, you must remember which one was the top and the bottom of each part, as planted upside down part will not grow.
The simplest way to remember which one was the top and bottom is to cut the bottom of each piece on a slight angle, and the top right across.
The main problem with cuttings is the development of fungal soft rot. This trouble begins at the cut surface and ultimately weakens the entire cutting. To avoid this problem experts recommend two techniques. The first simply is to allow all new cuttings to stay in a warm dry place from one to 14 days before they are planted in soil. Note, that the larger the cut surface, the longer it should be let to dry. To prevent the beginning of soft rot newly cut offshoots may also be put in garden sulphur before planting. Do not water the cutting for a week, then water sparingly.
These plants can also be grown from seed, but this type of propagation needs patience, as some cacti seed take a year to germinate, and it may take a few years to see what your young cacti will look like.
Despite this long process, many can be flowered within 2 years and even earlier.