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Cacti & Succulents

Can my Devil's Tongue be saved?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I recently noticed that the spines have stopped growing and it was starting to wrinkle. When I watered the water came out of the bottom a tinted yellow. Took it out of the pot and this is what I found. One thing I noticed is that I did not througly remove the original soil. What do you think?

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Comments (5)

greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Looks like it could have been potted slightly too low in the mix, you may then have spotted a problem earlier. Best to allow some space between the roots and the bottom of the plant then fill that space with sharp grit so the fleshy part isn't sitting directly in the mix. There doesn't seem much of the old soil attached, if that's all of it stuck to the roots, don't think that was the cause. What mix did you repot it I to? Don't think the tinted run off water was a sign of anything significant either.....but I have been wrong before :) someone else will be along soon...

Gill UK
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blaquepua thanked greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
bernardyjh
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Blaquepua, is the brown parts of the stems soft and oozy when touched? If it's still hard and firm, the plant might just be corking at the bottom. Your Ferocactus seems to be an old one with that much roots. What soil was it potted in? Is it a gritty typed mix?

I can't help you on the yellowing water unless we see what you use or snap some pics of your mix. Could it be you were watering with some fertilizer?

Here's my baby ferocactus. It's still growing spines, but it's coloring is less red as the weather gets colder..

Bernard
0
blaquepua thanked bernardyjh
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blaquepua
Original Author
8 years ago
I went ahead and re-potted it higher in the pot per your suggestion Gill. The mix is NAPA floor dry, pea gravel, and bark. You can see a little in the first two picture to the right.

Bernard, the yellow part is firm and there is no oozing that I could find. I was afraid the yellow water was from rot but I guess it is ok. I have other plants in the same mix with no yellow when watered. I bought it earlier this year and probably fertilized it last during the summer.

Hopefully everything is ok and I was just being over protective.
0
bernardyjh
8 years ago
Yea, it might just be corking and preparing to go dormant. My ferocactus is losing luster even though it's under lights now.

I always believe if it's firm and hard, the plant is fine.

I can't figure out why the water drained would be yellow, other than if you add anything into the water while watering.

Hope to see updates.

Bernard
0
kaktuskris
8 years ago
The roots look good. Don't see a problem with the plant.

Christopher
0

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