Can I cut the top off a large euphorbia and start it over?

Question

I have one of those euphorbias that look like a saguaro cactus and it stands about 5 feet tall with several arms. During our rainy winter this year it got too much water and now appears to be rotting at the base (brown) and shows no new growth this year. How can I salvage it?

Answer 1

Yes, you can make cuttings from your plant. Your best bet is to break off any of the "arms" where there is a junction point. Allow the cut area to dry for a few days and plant in a sandy soil mix.

It would be a good idea to make multiple cuttings, because even though the rooting success rate is pretty high, cuttings can fail for many reasons.