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Cactus turning black at top

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  • It looks too far gone, I would chuck those two and save the decent one.
    Then again, you've got nothing to lose....
  • I've attached the bugs with surgical spirit. Think I've got them all but I'll check every few days.

    I've also lopped the top off the really damaged one. What do you reckon, past it? How long would it take to look good again?
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    You don't seem to have removed all the brown rot areas.  Keep going further back.

    "Areoles" I think the affected parts are called.

    After you have finished all this, I think fresh cactus compost and a pot to scale will be needed.  My wife would say "throw it out!"
     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."
  • Your photo shows that there is still some rot on the damaged one which could continue to spread.  I'd be inclined to re pot the decent one .  Keep the damaged  one in a separate pot and see how it goes if you feel it's worth it.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Pachycereus pringlei (Mexican giant-cactus) ; can withstand down to -8 for short periods if bone dry . My own 4' specimen stays in an unheated g/house throughout the year .

    Areoles are modified branches or small cushions from which the spination of all cacti grow .

  • Hi all. Just thought I'd update this post in case anyone else experiences the same issue. 3 1/2 months on and although I lost one of the cacti, I still have one very healthy one and the pesky mealy bugs are long gone.

    Following advice here and elsewhere I treated each bug with surgical spirit. I re-potted it in fresh cactus compost and I also filled a bottle with a soap water mix and sprayed every week or so for two or three weeks just to be sure. So far, so good.

    To anyone with a cactus, look out for these bugs. They look like white fluff but they're eating your cactus! The soil will also look wet even if you haven't watered for ages.

    Thanks for the advice everyone!


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