Quick verdict
Sixteen inch bamboo tongs with grooved non-slip jaws that hold a cactus, a prickly pear fruit, a rose stem or a thistle a safe distance from the hand for repotting, harvesting and weeding. Bamboo is light, does not conduct heat or cold and does not crush the way metal jaws do. They suit people with weak grip as well as anyone tired of gloves full of spines. They are kitchen-tong simple and that is the appeal.
Strengths
- Keeps hands clear of spines and thorns
- Grooved bamboo jaws grip without crushing
- Sixteen inches of reach into a pot or a bed
- Light enough for seniors and weak hands
- Doubles as leaf tweezers and for thorny prunings
Weaknesses
- Bamboo splits if left wet or used on very heavy plants
- Not for cacti larger than the jaws can span
- Spines can lodge in the bamboo and transfer
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Arm’s Length From the Spines
Repotting a cactus with gloves ends with spines in the gloves and then in the hands. Harvesting prickly pear ends with glochids everywhere. Tongs keep the plant where the spines cannot reach. BETOOKY’s are 16 inch bamboo tongs with grooved jaws that grip a plant body or a fruit firmly without crushing it, light enough for any hand.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how long tongs are used for cacti and thorny plants generally. We have not used these tongs ourselves and the brand is a generic importer.
Repotting
Grip the cactus across its widest part, lift it clear of the old pot and set it into the new one at the right depth. Fill soil around the base with a spoon or a scoop. The tongs hold the plant steady while the soil is firmed, and the hands never come within a foot of a spine. Succulents with brittle leaves are handled the same way with a lighter grip.
Harvesting
Prickly pear fruit twist off the pad in the jaws and drop into a bucket. Rose stems and thistle heads are held for cutting. Thorny prunings are picked up and dropped in the barrow without a glove being touched.
Bamboo
Light, strong and softer than steel, so the grooved jaws grip without bruising a fleshy plant. Bamboo does not carry cold or heat into the plant. It splits if left wet or levered on a heavy pot, and spines can lodge in the grooves, so wipe and check the jaws after each use. A wipe of oil keeps the bamboo from drying out.
Limits
The jaws span a hand-sized plant. A large barrel cactus needs a folded towel or a loop of garden hose instead. Very heavy plants should not be lifted by tongs alone.
Who Should Buy It
- Cactus and succulent collectors who repot regularly.
- Prickly pear and rose growers.
- Gardeners with weak grip who find gloves and small plants awkward.
Common Owner Complaints
Bamboo splitting and spines lodging in the jaws. Keep them dry; check the grooves.
Technique Tips
Grip a cactus just below its widest point so the jaws cannot slip upward, and lift straight rather than at an angle. For a plant too wide for the jaws, wrap a strip of folded newspaper around it and grip the paper. Keep a second pair of tongs or a spoon ready for filling soil so the first pair never lets go mid-move.
Alternatives to Consider
Silicone-tipped metal tongs for heavier plants. A folded newspaper collar for large cacti. Thick leather rose gloves for close work.
Verdict
For repotting cacti and harvesting anything with spines, a long pair of bamboo tongs is the simple answer and these are a fair price. Grip firmly, keep them dry and the spines stay on the plant.
Full specifications
BETOOKY 16 Inch Bamboo Cactus Tongs with Non-Slip Jaws for Harvesting and Repotting FAQs
Grip the plant body with the jaws across its widest point, lift it from the old pot and set it in the new one, then fill soil around it with a spoon. Hands never touch it.
Bamboo is softer than metal and the grooves spread the grip. Hold firmly, not tightly, and the skin is not marked.
Yes. Grip the fruit, twist it off the pad and drop it in a bucket. Burn the glochids off later with a flame.
Wipe clean, let them dry and oil the bamboo occasionally. Check the jaws for lodged spines before the next use.
