Hello! I bought these cacti from a local succulent shop yesterday. They arrived in a single pot. They seemed pretty healthy, so I bought them, thinking that it was one of those cacti that grew multiple heads.

To my surprise, when I began repotting the cactus, it turns out that two of the "heads" share a single root system and aren't severable whatsoever without ripping out their roots entirely. The other third "head" is separate, after some gentle detangling of the roots. I'm not sure what to do with them--they're pretty large, so I suspect they've been growing together and small ones might be offshoots of the big one.

Seeking help from the cactus experts here on the forum - would you recommend separating these, or is keeping them in a single pot okay?

NOTE: This pot is temporary. I'll be buying a wider one soon once I get it.

This is an Eriosyce, a somewhat obscure but pretty genus. And AFAIK they should be mostly solitary with a few exceptions. Think the roots grew intertwined during propagation. Also dont buy a wider pot, change the soil into something containing a lot more inorganic matter(pumice, gravel, leca balls, brick bits,baked clay etc). These are NOT easy beginner plants.

I can change the soil using some pumice/gravel that I purchased on amazon; it'll arrive soon. I've been successfully caring for some Mammillaria for a few years, so I think with some proper care and research (+ tips from some forum users) it should work out!

Radicandy said:I can change the soil using some pumice/gravel that I purchased on amazon; it'll arrive soon. I've been successfully caring for some Mammillaria for a few years, so I think with some proper care and research (+ tips from some forum users) it should work out!

This does not compare to most mammillarias.
Ya know , id do a mental recap for plant difficulty
Mammillaria elongata 1/10 easy as pie
M. prolifera 1.5/10
M. gracilis 1/10
M w/fishooks 5.5 /10
M. haemisphaerica 4/10
M. senilis is reported at least a 9/10
M. with thick spines 3/10
M. rhodantha 2/10
M. bocasana 4,5 /10
(by fatality rate, root fickleness, my own climate)
.
.
.
If we go to eriosyce per average 7/10.
So idk what youve grown. Most difficult plant ive gotten to would be lithops(9/10), pleispilos(9.5 _, some frithia(8), and melocactus(8.5) .

They look fine together, to my eyes, with a bigger pot down the road maybe. 3 heads look better together than 2 heads, generally.

Just make sure the soil you use is relatively rocky (like 50% pumice/perlite/gritty equivalent) and provide as much light as possible indoors. Your standard Mammillaria care should work. And in case you aren't already aware, don't water right away after repotting (especially after root wrangling), wait a few days to a week or two if you damaged the roots.

Baja_Costero said:They look fine together, to my eyes, with a bigger pot down the road maybe. 3 heads look better together than 2 heads, generally.

Just make sure the soil you use is relatively rocky (like 50% pumice/perlite/gritty equivalent) and provide as much light as possible indoors. Your standard Mammillaria care should work. And in case you aren't already aware, don't water right away after repotting (especially after root wrangling), wait a few days to a week or two if you damaged the roots.

Thank you! I do know not to water right away after repotting. It was suggested before as well earlier so I will absolutely add pumice and gravel.

For my own preference, if that is my plant I will just leave it be for now. To me the container size and media seems okay for now anyways.

I usually do not repot right away, if set up looks okay. At times I wait a whole year before doing a repot especially if it is a new one I have not grown before yet. This allows me time to observe the plant as it grows and adjust as seasons change.

But if you do decide to repot, just follow what the others have suggested. Good luck!