These are sold by the hundreds in WalMart, Lowes, etc., in a variety of forms (Mr. Red Top, etc.). The green ones can grown on their own roots. Yale

Hi hanzrobo :) hi cmc :) Thanks for the replies! I initially severed on the hylo side, but you could see a lot of hylo in the sperical top cacti. I had to slice into the 'rebutia' to remove the triangular hylo. Not too happy about that part, but as you say, the season is on my side. Seems like you can stick just about anything in a bit of soil at this time and voila! New plant. I should dip in rooting powder right away? I'm not too sure about the order of things. Previously I've dried out my piece/cutting and then dipped in the hormone, but perhaps I've been doing things wrong...mind you with the fungicide that makes sense... The top is the healthiest most solid little green being inside . I've not sliced a cacti open before and used a very sharp Henckels knife - it went like a hot knife through butter it was that easy. The inside was just so...clean, green, and solid. I'll try to get some pics up...hubbie's in the market for a camera.

Keep them warm, in sun most of the time and mist once a week or so. If they're going to root, they should be rooted by spring.

So, do the god-awful neon mutants not exist other than in nurseries? There is no "wild moon cactus"? I don't care for them, but of course when I told my 7-year-old that she could pick the next cactus. ..we brought home a pink one. I usually house it behind other pots so it doesn't hurt my eyes. :]