Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of hot water with my girlfriend. She has a beloved cactus she's been cultivating for 15 years. Earlier today I clumsily bumped into it and one of the limbs partially broke. It made an awful crack spewed white "blood," but it's still attached.

As you can see in the pictures, we have made a bit of a splint with some string and it's hanging tight for the time being.

However, we're worried about infection. Would it be better to just cut the whole thing off? How do we keep it clean and safe?

We really don't want to lose the whole cactus because of this.

Thanks for all your help!

You are going to be a hero! Cut that broken branch off with a sharp knife or garden shears. Let it sit on the counter for about a week than plant it in a pot of nearly dry cactus soil. Water it well, put it in a sunny spot and wait. Don't water again until the soil is really really dry. It will root and grow a new plant.

The old plant will be fine. You don't need to do anything to the"cut". BTW, your girlfriend's cactus is a succulent called a Euphorbia.

Some clarification: No it is not considered a Cactus. It is considered a Succulent, as Daisy said.

Warning: Do not touch that caustic sap. And especially DO not get it in your eyes of your face.

Suggestion: Leave the limb the way it is. If it breaks off more, or starts to de-hydrate, take a cutting the way Daisy said. IMO.

Hi & welcome! Kudos to GF for such a beautiful plant!

Thanks everyone!

Curious while we're here, do you have an idea for what variety of Euphorbia it could be?

Euphorbias are not in my area of expertise. Thoughts @Baja_Costero

I do not recognize the plant.

I didn't recognize it either.

But Aeonium, why did you answer and counter what I said if you don't grow Euphorbia?

Daisy, I never said I don't grow euphorbias. I just don't know much about identifying them.

Its one of the spiny trees, and that's about how far I can go.

Its a E.lactea. Probably the alleged variety gigantea, which is this bright-lime green shade.

The trigonal stem shape, the segments with conical outline, and the distribution of branches indicates this.