Spring is a great time to take cuttings from your cactus and grow new plants. Types of cacti that are easily grown from cuttings include those that form pads or segments, or are columnar in growth habit. Make sure you choose a parent plant that is healthy and pest-free. Sterilize a sharp knife in a 1:9 bleach/water solution and cut a single pad or two-segment piece from the parent. Make your cuttings at the joints, and if you are taking several segments, be sure to remember which ends of the cuttings are top and bottom. Many people do this by cutting the bottom at an angle and the top straight across. Allow the wounds to heal on the cuttings by setting them in a warm, dry location until they callus over. This may take 2 days to 2 weeks, depending upon the size of cutting and type of cactus. This procedure will help prevent the cutting from developing rot when you root them. Some people recommend waiting until the cutting loses 50-60% of its weight before rooting. Most importantly, just make sure it has developed a hard callus over the wound. To root your cuttings, fill a small pot Cactus and Succulent Potting. Moisten the potting media, making sure it is not overly wet. Dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting powder. Form a small hole or trench in the potting medium, set the bottom of the cutting in the hole, and gently firm the mix around the cutting. Do not cover with plastic or mist as you might with other types of plant cuttings. Doing so could lead to water droplet damage or root rot. It may take several months to develop a healthy new root system. Keep plant in a well-lit but cool environment during this time. When the new root system has developed, carefully remove the plant from the rooting medium and transplant in a new container with Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix.