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Cacti & Succulents

Mystery cactus falling over

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I got this plant as a gift over a year ago, since then it has grown a ton of new arms and has been very happy. Today it was tipped over and leaning against the pot. Im not sure if unable to support its own weight or if its having some other troubles. Theres no sign of it dying. Im currently supporting it with some rocks in the pot. Also, can this plant be propagated?

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Comments (5)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
That is opuntia (probably Opuntia microdasys?). All those new pads should be wider, similar to older pads. ..."ton of new arms"... is not really sign of well grown plant if they are skinny/narrow. I do not grow it, but believe that they will stay skinny, and really should be cut/broken off since they are too weak to support further growth. Pads that are removed will grow roots (that is how you propagate them), but IMO the skinny ones should be discarded. Plant is not receiving enough light - you need to keep it where it does. Otherwise, skinny growth will continue. Plant should look like this (photo from the net):

If succulents start collapsing/leaning, and there is no rot (there could be but maybe you don't see it yer) it is often because of poor root system that is not supporting and anchoring plant sufficiently. Roots could be dry or rotting, depending on if soil is too wet, or too dry. Show us the clear pic of it or at least describe. Also, pot plant is potted in needs drainage hole(s). What is the soil like? How much and how often do you water? What kind of light is it getting?

BTW, those glochids are hard to remove from the skin, so be cautious when handling. Wear very thick gloves (leather is good) or use rolled-up newspaper to hold the pads...
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
3 years ago
I find that leather is skin and the needles will embed in it and it is a good way to ruin gloves. News paper is better. also elders or wood glue dried under heat and then ripped off like a band aid will remove the glochids. Thin growth due to lack of light is call etoliation. I hope I spelled it right.
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Comments (2)
Some cactus naturally grow long and then travel along the ground. It might clump at this point also. Do you know the species.. Is there an ID fo this cactus? Is there rot at the base. Is it soft down there? If there is rot, one might cut it off and heal over the cut and reroot it. BUT it could be the way it grows naturally as it ages. could it not be getting enough sunlight. I have heard that the twisting of the ribs could mean that it is not getting enough moisture. Someone said that in reference to some twisting large cereus. I am just repeating it. You cactus does look old. If allowed to lean and wander, it would be the kind of cactus our talented member, Caudex would love to stage in one of his incredible pots.As we age we develop character that is appreciated by some and not others. I would just make sure that it is healthy in the section above its roots. This post was edited by wantonamara on Thu, Jun 20, 13 at 8:40
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Hi Becca I have 2 kinds of prickly pear cactus, the fruit is good and one is yellow and the other red. I started them from seed and planted them on the west side. Because is protected from winds and freezes by the house it does well in this spot without any care even with all the rain and winds that we had. The soil is not amended. In Arizona I had xeriscape in my front yard and had cactus and succulents with stone as a mulch. Silvia
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I believe you hit the nail on the head - not enough roots. Curious as to what it's growing in. Cactus definitely do best with 1/2 inorganic material like gravel and or perlite. The pot looks rather large for the size of the plant. I would only sprinkle water on the surface (not deep watering) near the cactus roots til it starts to firmly grasp the mix on its own. Maybe a small stick like a popsicle stick, coffee stirrer or such can be used to prop the cactus up until it forms it's own rootlets.
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Comments (14)
Can you tell us were is it bending. If it is bending at the base, above the root, then you might have rot in the base or it is naturally laying down on the ground. If it is soft at the base, it is rot.. If the roots are falling with the plant then maybe you have some problems with the roots. /Some can stand up on very tiny bases. But some will bend with age naturally from what I have seen on the internets. Theoretically you can cut it off its base and regrow roots after callousing and sprinkling the fresh cut with cinnamon. I don't know if one can sink it further in the ground. Beyond my scope of experience. DO NOT WATER IT till there are roots. I root cactus in pure pumice or perlite. I would be hesitant to taking a knife to something that old. I would be more apt to address the root problem. They will re root easier. I would take it out of the soil and take a good look at the roots and at the base. and cut off roots till one gets to sound meat , callous it and repot it.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
"Thin growth due to lack of light is call etoliation. I hope I spelled it right."

Close!! :-) Etiolation.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
3 years ago
There you go.
SoCal Stewart (San Diego, Ca Zone 10A/10B)
3 years ago
WOW gardengal! I have been both spelling and saying it wrong for YEARS!

Thanks for the correction!

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