posted
I have had this little cactus for about 2 years and today I just noticed that it looks about 1/2 the size it was just a week ago! The sides look like they are shrunken in and instead of being a round little cactus it has a weird shape now. I don't know if you can tell much from these photos. Any ideas? Does it need more water? Sunlight? Plants: 32 | From: Anacortes, WA | Registered: Dec 2004
| Seeded: 66.12.193.250
It is probably rotting from within, letting to the distorted shape.
* * * * I love the sweet scents wafting in the breeze. I stop to admire the vibrant colors of all living things. And people think me odd. Then ODD I am!!!
posted
Definitely not more water! That could be its problem. I agree with RugbyHukr that its probably rotting from within. If the bottom feels squishy but the top is still firm, you can cut it off, let it heal over for a week or two, and then root it in barely damp sand.
* * * *
may God bless the WHOLE world! Plants: 601 | From: Rhinebeck, NY USA | Registered: Jan 2005
| Seeded: 68.199.184.133
posted
Ok - I cut it! The inside looks weird though, it's hollow and has what almost looks like tiny spider webs in it. Here is a photo of the inside of the top part: It almost looks like a smiley face!
And here is a photo of the outside bottom root part:
And one of the inside of the bottom part:
Does it look dead? Should I just give up on it? I really have no idea how to tell....
Plants: 32 | From: Anacortes, WA | Registered: Dec 2004
| Seeded: 66.12.193.250
posted
Cactus are not supposed to be watered fron november through february. It took me about 20 cactus to figure that one out, now I have 5 that are thriving, in fact next month they need to be repotted.
I have to agree that it looks like it rotted itself out.
posted
A living cactus has a solid inside varying from green to light green to whitish, with noticable differences in color and texture from the water storage to structural tissues, but it all has a healthy, firm, and moist look to it. Sorry about yours. Read up some on cactus culture and get another. They have the most wonderful flowers! This is my favorite mail order site for healthy, well documented, and not expensive cacti and succulents. http://www.miles2go.com/
* * * *
may God bless the WHOLE world! Plants: 601 | From: Rhinebeck, NY USA | Registered: Jan 2005
| Seeded: 68.199.184.133
posted
Ok thanks for the advice and the link! I hope I do better next time.
Plants: 32 | From: Anacortes, WA | Registered: Dec 2004
| Seeded: 66.12.193.250
login | 
| 
| 
Printer-friendly view of this garden