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URGENT help needed cactus turning black

luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hello my beautiful euphorbia ingenues variegata is turning black at the base and I'm very worried. Could anyone please help. 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Is it standing in water? Overwatering usually kills cacti more than benign neglect.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    edited April 2019
    Your E . ingens 'variegata' is suffering from stem-rot ; has it been overwatered at any stage? They can withstand literally months without any water whatsoever .
    My own E . horrida 'Striata' stays in an unheated greenhouse throughout the Winter ; not a single drop from October until late April !
    Drenched weekly during Summer though .
    If the worst happens and the stem collapses , all is not lost ! This plant is propagated by cuttings anyway ; simply remove a couple of side-branches ; leave to callous for 4/6 weeks , repot into a gritty growing medium and treat as normal .
    Greenhouse conditions would be preferable to growing indoors .
  • luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6
    fidgetbones said:
    Is it standing in water? Overwatering usually kills cacti more than benign neglect.
    There’s no water in the bottom of the pot, I haven’t taken it out of the pot to check the roots
  • luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6
    Paul B3 said:
    Your E . ingens 'variegata' is suffering from stem-rot ; has it been overwatered at any stage? They can withstand literally months without any water whatsoever .
    My own E . horrida 'Striata' stays in an unheated greenhouse throughout the Winter ; not a single drop from October until late April !
    Drenched weekly during Summer though .
    If the worst happens and the stem collapses , all is not lost ! This plant is propagated by cuttings anyway ; simply remove a couple of side-branches ; leave to callous for 4/6 weeks , repot into a gritty growing medium and treat as normal .
    Greenhouse conditions would be preferable to growing indoors .
    Hi Paul thanks for your response. I can move it to a position with much more light, next to a large window...do you think that would reverse any of the rot? Is there anything I can do to repair things at this stage or simply hope for the best and propagate if necessary? 
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    I've always found that stem-rot spreads fairly rapidly . Mild cases can be dealt with by removing the plant , cutting away the affected area , again leave to callous for a period and then treat as normal .
    However , as your plant is damaged so far down the stem I fear that a re-occurence would manifest at a later stage .
    Unfortunately , moving the plant now would achieve nothing , Sorry to be the bearer of 'bad-tidings' :(
  • luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6
    Paul B3 said:
    I've always found that stem-rot spreads fairly rapidly . Mild cases can be dealt with by removing the plant , cutting away the affected area , again leave to callous for a period and then treat as normal .
    However , as your plant is damaged so far down the stem I fear that a re-occurence would manifest at a later stage .
    Unfortunately , moving the plant now would achieve nothing , Sorry to be the bearer of 'bad-tidings' :(
    :( that’s a shame. Would you be able to advise in a little more detail (I’m pretty useless with this kind of thing) how to propagate, where to cut, when to plant etc etc. and hopefully we can grow some babies
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Glad to help !
    1) Using a very sharp knife , cut as close to the main stem as possible . Avoid getting the milky latex near your eyes ! Believe me , it hurts !! Leave to callous ; this is important .
    2) Plant after 4-6 weeks in a very gritty compost ( I use pure granite chippings and liquid feed ) .
    3) Late Spring/early Summer is best for planting when natural growth commences .
    4) Even in the brightest window , etiolation (Stretched weakened growth) can happen .
    Maximum light is crucial , especially to succulent Euphorbias .

  • luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6

  • luke.ogorman.93luke.ogorman.93 Posts: 6
    I have cut where it narrows. Would it be better to cut higher up through the thicken part?
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    That is just fine where you've cut ........now you've got to be patient and leave the cuttings to heal for at least a month .
    Well done for going ahead with it !
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