I like this thread. Lowes is good about discounting their older plants. I got some of those tiny cacti marked down to around 50 cents a piece last fall. I'm not sure they were ever technically distressed. (How do you distress a cactus?) I don't have before photos, but one of them produced an offset. :)

Thanks Flowerfarmer!That bouquet is GORGEOUS!!! It looks like I should have gotten the spiky kind instead of the cockscomb seed that I picked up. The spikes blend well in the bouquet. I think I'll go order some more seed. : )

I might need some clarification from experts on this one. I did not get cutting from lower branches, instead I cut the top 12" of the plant and got cutting from there. will it work? what is the best place of plant to get a cutting that will produce good?

Besides pruning, I also planted some cuttings of favorite tomatoes. out of 10 cuttings, 6 survived and I see new growth. I also put two cuttings in glass of water for 1-week and both got roots, then I planted both into the ground and both survived as well. on pruned plants new growth is pretty good. hoping I dont get BER, for that I will be treating all the plants with compost tea (professionaly fresh brewed)