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useful tips on helping my poor cacti :)

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Ambivalent

Ambivalent

Rising Star
well, the name of the thread says it..if anyone can throw some useful tips i would be very grateful.

i have zero experience with growing cacti, and i own these two babies only for a year or so.

the bigger one is unknown to me, but it definitely isn't Cereus.and its the one i have bigger problems with.
i took it from a friend in very bad shape, it was already above 8 inches and was still potted in a small plastic cup. i really didnt had the time to be around them after that, so i gave them on safe keeping to a neighbour who is also growing veggies on a hill near me.obviously he didnt had the interest or knowledge to help my cacti, but at least he was watering it in the hottest days of the summer.

its visible that he is quite sick, but there is new growth on the top and i would like to save at least that...how should i proceed ?
 

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If I were you I would cut the healthy top section an inch above where it looks like its beginning to rot.

I would then cut off that rotted center portion an inch into the healthy looking bottom section.

Discard the center piece and place your top cutting in a cool, dry place and allow it to heal for a few weeks.

let your bottom section heal too. Bring it inside to protect it from the elements until it scabs over and heals.

If all goes well you can re-pot your top cutting and let it root. Your already rooted bottom cutting will grow little pups. depending on how many it pushes out you'd essentially be turning one cactus into three to five while saving it at the same time.

Good luck!
:d
 
thank alot Dreamwalker. any other tips to make the small one feel more comfortable ? also how can i protect them from parasites in such a case ?! thanks again, i really appreciate it.
 
I would just leave the small one and let it grow. As far as parasites go I really cant comment on that. Perhaps someone else can chime in as far as that goes. I've never had any problems with parasites on any of my cacti. Do you actually see any on them?
 
well, i couldnt spot the actual bugs, but when i took a closer look i saw small threads of web on it.

in any case, thanks. i hope someone else will also give me some good starters, important things to look for. again i have zero experience in growing cacti, i dont know what kind of complications to expect if any at all.
 
Those webs could be spiders, they like to use the spines as support and nest in. Probably more helpful than anything. But it could be a mold. I guess I've found when dealing with pests, fungus, rot, bad bacteria, etc. is a healthy watering schedule and nice clean composted dirt will clear up any problems.

Can't remember who posted before me, but was really good advice. If you follow it, make sure you let the cuttings callous over all the way if you having problems with rot. And only lightly mist something your trying to root. Because there are no roots yet, it doesn't absorb water as well and any extra will invite rot.

A couple notes on healthy pups, seems a little bit of extra water just at the surface will help them come along, but then cut back to normal once they show up. Also, try to cut near 2 or 3 areoles, pups will come out there.

Happy growin,
D
 
thanks alot. i will try to give them the best care.


galulyah said:
Also, try to cut near 2 or 3 areoles, pups will come out there.
Click to expand...

can you please explain this part ? are these areols at the top of the cacti ?
 
looks like old damage, if its not super soft and wet there i'd not cut
often the heal over and go for years just like that
 
yea the damage is pretty old. i think i will go with your advice dg. it survived the summer like this, so i will wait and see how the winter will go. if it doesnt spread than i will leave it as it is.

and what are the main reasons for the rot to appear in the first place ? too much water ? i know i was very careful with watering. but maybe the neighbour i left it with was overgenerous.


thanks guys
 
The aerole is where the spines come out. As for the rot, I know for trichs, they love water. As long as it drains well even if you overwater they are forgiving. Your pic looks like it might have similar water needs, maybe not quite as hardy?

Anyway, yea water is probably the main culprit. I made a mistake this summer though and used dishoap on my guys. I didn't know the soap keeps them from breathing properly and a bunch formed these black blisters. They were no big deal though and healed over really fast.

One other thought, a lot of times if you fill up the pot around the base of the cactus with some really nice compost the extra nutrients will help it heal up easier.

Nice cactus!

D
 
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