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Cacti & Succulents

Leaning Cactus of Pisa

3 years ago

Hi Everyone! I was wondering if anyone knew why my cactus began to lean all of a sudden. I’ve had this fuzzy cactus for about 4 years now. In the past year he has grown that very top portion (about 6 inches long). Before I left for a day trip he was standing upright all by himself; but, when I came back the very next day he was completely leaned over. I left him for a couple of hours up against a wall so he stayed upright. When I checked back on him he was standing up on his own but still slightly leaning.

I decided to repot him since it has been 4 years and I also helped support him with some chopsticks. He sits on my window and gets plenty of light. I also only water him once his soil is completely dry. There was no sign of rot in his roots or at his base. However, there are slight scars where his new growth appeared. Is this just because he’s top heavy or is there another issue I should be worried anout? Thank you!!

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Comments (4)

socks
3 years ago
I'll post to bump this up so maybe someone can help you. The plant doesn't look too good unless it's some kind of trailing cactus. I can tell you it is potted too deep, but I don't think that's the problem. You may need to clip off the top and start over in a smaller pot with fast-draining cactus mix. Your mix looks a bit dark and wet for a cactus.
SoCal Stewart (San Diego, Ca Zone 10A/10B)
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
It looks like it might be due to insufficient lighting. If given proper light it doesn‘t require staking and can support itself.

With insufficient light plants stretch (etiolate) trying to reach toward whatever light is available. Often growth is fast, but weak, hence the staking & leaning.

See how it’s girth at the bottom is larger? Then, it narrows significantly in the middle? Now, the top is thicker again? Maybe it’s getting better light now but at some point it wasn’t getting enough so that weaker skinnier section in the middle can‘t support the weight at the top.
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It sounds like the base is rotten and not salvageable. Most likely the once-a-week watering you started with was too much, if it's planted in a regular peat based potting mix, and even the initial signs that you saw were those of overwatering rather than under watering (annoyingly, they're the same signs). You should be able to cut off the last pad if it's still healthy and root it. Make sure there's absolutely no sign of rot in the section you're saving, cut away anything that is suspect. Set the cutting aside for several days to let the cut end dry out and callous over. You should then be able to plant it into a well- draining mix and allow it to root. Look up gritty mix, or use straight pumice, or a bagged succulent soil that is heavily amended (50/50) with perlite or pumice. Don't water it at all for at least a couple of weeks. Once the cutting feels really stable in the mix, that's an indication that roots have formed, and you can start watering. Let the soil dry between waterings, though a gritty type mix will be much more forgiving when it comes to watering frequency. When you see new top growth you can add a little fertilizer.
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Because it was kept in a pot it never developed the proper support roots. Cut it off (actually, you could likely make 10 or more plants out of that column, each piece 6" or so, if you wanted to. They can be longer, too.). Set the cuttings aside, then after a few days insert the cut end slightly into soil. Don't water the soil, but every few days spritz the cuttings with water. You'll be getting new growth in less than six weeks, I would think.
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It needs more sunlight. Also, I recommend a 50/50 Cactus/Succulent soil and perlite so it can have good drainage, it may rot without it. It looks way overpotted as well and I am wondering if that pot has a drainage hole
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That's the way they grow. They sprawl along the ground as they grow, not as a columnar plant.
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Gabby C (FL 9A)
3 years ago
what kinda sun does it get?
gdinieontarioz5
3 years ago
Also the fact that the new growth is over to one side, makes it impossible for the spindly bottom to support that more robust top. I would take off the top part, let it dry for a few days, and pot it up as a cutting. Try to get a pot that is not too big and has a drainage hole, and fill it close to the rim with cactus soil and about 50% coarse perlite. Start watering once the new roots show up.

The old part will probably give you a few more cuttings too.

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