Cut the dead tops off. Keep going until you (hopefully) reach sound plant (it will be obvious). Don't water until the spring, and then very judiciously.
If you didn't notice the two smaller plants you have not been looking at it. If you are not looking at it, why keep it?
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I know nothing about cacti but I asked a friend who does. She says that she can see mealy bug and that does a lot of damage to the plant and roots. She also asked if the plant was in full sun as that can damage them also. You said that it's in a south facing window so might this be your answer?
It's definitely not been watered. My wife used to be ic indoor plants but I took over in September and neither of us have watered since. The soil is like dust but as it's in the kitchen we figure it probably gets enough moisture from the air. I think I'll try cutting down the larger one and see if I can get to clear green, if not I'll remove it and the two small dead ones and repot the remaining green one in cactus compost.
The window is South facing but given the plant was healthy until about a month ago (not the two little dead ones) I think the position is ok in summer. I'm guessing, as others have suggested, the cold snap got it. It got down to -8 outside so I bet by the window it was below 10c.
Fingers crossed. It's been incredibly easy to look after until now.
Cacti love sun so it needs be in a South facing window at the least and also the damage was done in Winter. I would agree with checking those white spots aren't mealy bug though. As said earlier, if you don't find out exactly what it is you won't be able to care for it properly. All my cactus are hardy so live in the PT, they've been down to -7 recently and look fine.
Whoever first said mealy bugs wins. Turns out (having spoken to my wife) they were present when she bought it but she just thought it was dust/fluff. From brief reading it seems that's normal -they can't spread far so if it's an isolated plant, which it is, they prob came with it.
So, can I save it? Anyone got any tips? I'll do some research but if anyone's dealt with it before I'd be grateful for advice.
If you can see the bugs, dapping them with meths can help. The link that @Uff gave you above gives more info. You could also look at the British Cactus forum for more info. https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=1
If you can see the bugs, dapping them with meths can help. The link that @Uff gave you above gives more info. You could also look at the British Cactus forum for more info. https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=1
Thank you. Read the control measures, I'll give them a go. And thank you for the tip with meths.
Would people suggest cutting off the top of the infected one?
Posts
If you didn't notice the two smaller plants you have not been looking at it. If you are not looking at it, why keep it?
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
It's definitely not been watered. My wife used to be ic indoor plants but I took over in September and neither of us have watered since. The soil is like dust but as it's in the kitchen we figure it probably gets enough moisture from the air. I think I'll try cutting down the larger one and see if I can get to clear green, if not I'll remove it and the two small dead ones and repot the remaining green one in cactus compost.
The window is South facing but given the plant was healthy until about a month ago (not the two little dead ones) I think the position is ok in summer. I'm guessing, as others have suggested, the cold snap got it. It got down to -8 outside so I bet by the window it was below 10c.
Fingers crossed. It's been incredibly easy to look after until now.
I would agree with checking those white spots aren't mealy bug though.
As said earlier, if you don't find out exactly what it is you won't be able to care for it properly. All my cactus are hardy so live in the PT, they've been down to -7 recently and look fine.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/mealybug
So, can I save it? Anyone got any tips? I'll do some research but if anyone's dealt with it before I'd be grateful for advice.
Thanks all.
The link that @Uff gave you above gives more info.
You could also look at the British Cactus forum for more info.
https://forum.bcss.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=1
Would people suggest cutting off the top of the infected one?