The more sun you can give the plant the better. I understand you're limited but as much as you can will really help your plant, as well as help your soil to not stay wet for so long. As long as it's well draining you should be ok, but don't water again if the soil feels damp. Marie is right about the fertilizer, that helps a tremendous amount too. I think once the temps start getting below about 60-65 degrees you should stop watering and find a place to let them go dormant. Keep us posted!

I am with everyone on this too.. I was able to provide FULL HOT sun and water once a week, even in the winter when it thrived..Here is the catch. It was in a small place, on a shelf, with glass on all sides, where it would get hot in there, even in the dead of winter. It was always in bloom, especially, this time of year. Once I had to switch work places, there was no where to put it, so I put it outdoors in the spring through summer last year, and it never flowered or looked the same after that, even in the hot summer sun. In fact, I lost my plant just last week!!!:-(((( I was watering it exactly the way I use to before, only it was not in a hot sunny place, only in a sunny place where room temps were always just in the 70's, I guess cool by their standards...It rotted out from the stump and collasped..I almost cried.In fact my self worth, was almost bruised too..I felt I failed that plant I had an attachment to.. I learned that next time, I would rather hold back on the watering even though, even if I think the soil is dry, until I can give it HOT sun.. I wish you luck with yours! I wouldn't worry so much about undwatering since it is not getting the hot sun they love and thrive in..That could explain the not so hard trunk and stems..Mine always had a very HARD trunk, when it was getting the heat and sun..Then softened, once the ehat was robbed of it, but not the sun..Maybe they require more hydration when they get the heat and sun together, which could explain the reason for hardness..A well hydrated plant..? I wonder myself.. I am sure it will be alot better once it gets both!I did notice the ones at HD were loosing their firmness too. They have theirs in full sun also..They were stiff when they arrived, and the women told be they were use to growing in hotter conditions too.. I saw those beauties at HD this am, and I was hesitant to buy one, because I wish I could provide desert like conditions in which they thrive on.. P.s..I will say that the only time that my plant even came close to looking as good as it did in the past, was when I had it on the hot tarpped roof in full sun July, until the wind blew it right off..So no more hot tarp.. Wishing you luck ;-)

like Rjj said, whenever they are growing... Mine used to go more dormant in the winter, but now have changed up their routine, and seem to only act sleeping during February (I suppose that is when they are getting the least light, despite growlights...) - so any time other than that, when they seem to be actively growing is when I would choose. When do yours seem to like to grow? that should give you a good idea of when to prune. I like to let mine get a head start and grow strong for a little bit before I do anything to them also... just so they feel encouraged and not overwhelmed, lol :) good luck! -Willow

Greenjay, thanks, glad you like my efforts so far, my fav is #3. Bikerdoc, hope someone from the USA comes in to help you find a good seed supplier as I'm from the UK. As for the germinating media I tend to use a 50/50 mix of cactus and general purpose potting compost. The seeds need to be soaked in warmish water for 4 hours or so before lying them on the surface of your pots and covering with just a sprinkling of mix. Keep them moist but not saturated and in the mid 20'sC. If fresh, they should pop in a matter of a few days, mine come through in 5/7 usually. They grow quickly once through and need to be kept moist for several weeks after sprouting. When around and inch or so high and with a couple of sets of true leaves I re-pot mine individually into 30% cactus mix, 30% potting compost and 30% horticultural grit...it needs to be very fast draining. I let mine dry out before I water again which can be every other day even here in the UK! Give them as much light & warmth as poss. Keep them growing year round for 2 years if poss...I find young seedlings don't go dormant anyway and the bigger the plant is going into winter, the more reserves it has to go through a dormant period. When older/bigger, in summer treat as tropicals...ie.warm and watered often but remember, don't let them sit in water or get waterlogged or the roots rot. In winter keep drier like a cactus....if they go dormant and loose leaves hardly water them at all. Cold and/or constantly wet and soggy feet are killers, the roots and caudex can rot easily. As for root pruning, well I'm not the one to tell you much about that as I haven't got to that stage with mine...yet! Good luck, hope this helps, it's what I do with mine anyway. Josh, thanks for the heads up on the root pruning... I will certainly now wait a while before I chop them as I'd certainly like them to put on some more growth yet. Regards, Gill from the UK.