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Cacti & Succulents

Cacti help

8 years ago

This is what the hole looks like. It doesn't have anymore mushy areas or soft spots. The roots seem fine and not wet or humid. Any ideas? Could it have been that stupid rat bit it or something? It looks dark in there, like it's wet but it's not. I added some rocks to the help it keep its weight supported off the wounded side.

Featured Answer

aztcqn

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I had answered like 2 hours ago, but, it didn't post!!! Grrrrr.

OK, Mariy, you could do as Rina stated and cut above the wound, let cut dry a few days and place on the surface of growing medium and wait for roots to grow out the bottom of the top cut. Many growers often start new plants this way. You could, also, just let the wound callous without surgery. If the roots are still viable, stem is not soft, liquid plant is not leaking out and it's not squishy, the plant may very well heal and grow over the cut area in time. Not sure from the pic, but, it looks like the center of the stem is exposed and there is rot. If so, I would cut off all the damage and try from there.

The regenerative powers of cacti is astounding, to me, at times. I've developed a keen respect for these prickly spheres. One of my cactus was bit into a crescent moon shape by a dumb dog once. It took all summer, but, it healed and grew over the wound as the wound decreased until the plant was roundish again. Another of my cacti lost more than half it's mass from dry rot (there's a thread somewhere on it) and stood in green suspended animation (Umhm, we all know how fast cactus grow, but, this was even slower) for 2 summers. It has now produced a healthy new pup that's growing quite large and fast these last 2 months.

In either case, I would let that wound completely dry before potting up. Leave it somewhere protected from moisture until it does. For any cuts I apply powdered garden sulfur as it's an anti-bacterial/fungal. Works really well on cacti and orchids. I don't have experience with this, but, some folks on this forum, use cinnamon as a cut protectant in place of the sulfur.

IMO, your plant has a good chance of recovering. Hope this helps.

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Comments (21)

cooliceball
8 years ago
Just saying tha mabey you shoud bury. It or wrap it in cloth because the inside is open and may be weak to things like bugs or virus
Mariy Necro thanked cooliceball
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
What should I bury it with? The soil? Thanks
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That is crazy;)! I wonder what type of environment it was in for that cactus to grow like that. Honestly I wouldn't do anything with this cactus till spring. Keep it dry till March. Once Mid March comes around I would repot. Wait I'm assuming you live on the Northern Hemisphere. Could you give your hardiness zone too. That helps when giving advise;). When you repot you can use the same pot, but if the roots are week, which I suspect they are, go down a size in the pot size. Don't go up:). Use a fast draining mix. Bagged cactus mixes almost always need to be amended with some perlite and or pumice. You may want to look up something called Al's gritty mix. I'm so very curious about the roots on this guy. Just wait till spring though. This guy is difficult to id because of the shape. I'm pretty sure he wasn't receiving proper light at one point. That's why it has that hourglass shape. Maybe some type of Echinopsis:). Very strange how the cactus has ribs at the bottom, but it's starting to get tubercles at top. You may want to think about starting this guy over next growing season and cutting him, but hey this guy is different. May be neat to see what he grows out looking like.
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cooliceball
8 years ago
Yes the soil and your welcome
Mariy Necro thanked cooliceball
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
Will do!! Thank you!! :)
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
I covered it with the soil and it actually got worst :(
cooliceball
8 years ago
You could wrap in cloth and feel so bad right now
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
Don't worry. It was good advice since it was dry. I don't know what happened. I took it out of the pot and currently have it out in the sun. Hoping that it dries. The stem is visible now. I really hope it recovers :( I had heard some stories about taking rotting cacti and cutting it a bit higher than the zone that is affected and letting it callous. Then planting it and it should root again. have you ever done this?
cooliceball
8 years ago
No sorry i cant help
Mariy Necro thanked cooliceball
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
cooliceball
I don't think it is a good advice to bury or wrap in cloth (!) plant that seems to be rotting...
Mariy Necro thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
Rina, any advice on saving my cactus?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Mariy
I have only couple of cacti so not much experience.
I just would not recommend burying any sick part of any plant...or wrapping in cloth.

I would think that your cacti could be cut above the damage (until you see a healthy inside flesh in case there is some rot), letting cut piece callus (to harden off) and then potting up in better potting mix (yours seems to be very peaty).

This post will bring your thread up to top and I hope someone with cacti knowledge will advice better than me.

Unfortunately, unanswered threads on houzz don't stay on top and don't get noticed, that's why nobody answered your post.

Rina
Mariy Necro thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago

I just took these pics. Hopefully it can be saved. I adore that little cactus! Thank you, Rina
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
Mariy
It looks like something was chewing on it, but am not sure. If it was mine, I would cut it and try to root it again.
Bumping this thread again for a cacti expert to answer...
Rina
Mariy Necro thanked rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
bump
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
Yea. That's what I tried today. Now to wait and see. Hopefully it'll work. How do I bump the threads?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
8 years ago
I am glad you got detailed answer.
I use powdered cinnamon on large cuts, and it works well.
Rina
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
aztqn, Thank you very much. I'm glad your cacti have healed and are growing well :) I did what Rina had said. I cutted it for about 2 inches on top of where the rot ended. I have it lying on the counter, waiting for it to callous and afraid to look at it cause I'm scared to find that it's still rotting. I don't know where I can find the sulfur but I have plenty of cinnamon. I will try this. Wish me luck! Thank you so much, both you and Rina :)
aztcqn
8 years ago
My dog bit cactus has gone to prickly heaven from other (neglect) causes, but, the one with the pup is growing well. With these experiences I know these plants are tough. Hope your cactus regrows into a new plant.
:]
Mariy Necro thanked aztcqn
Mariy Necro
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you so much!
joediedrichs
8 years ago
Oh yeah and you could try cutting off the part of the root that rotted.

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