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Cactus Dying?

pbffpbff Posts: 433
in Problem solving

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Hi all,

We have had this cactus for a number of years (probably about 25 years in total) and have never had any problems with it.

This week though, we noticed the edges of the ribs near the stem tip starting to discolour and the epidermis flaking away in white sheets.

Over the course of 4 days, it has become much, much worse.

It has not been over-watered or exposed to any frost.

The blackened areas are not soft, like you'd expect them to be either. If anything, they are really quite hard, like it's drying out, as though the vascular system has stopped supplying the outside of the stem.

As far as I can tell, there are no pests in the root system.

Has anyone any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

pbff

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Posts

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    it may just be at the end of its life? i'm not sure what the lifespan of a species like that is, or it might have dried out too much? this is the time of year to start lightly watering.

    you can cut the top off it, that may slow or stop whatever is happening at the top and it should shoot from the bottom.

  • pbffpbff Posts: 433

    Thanks, treehugger.

    At the base, the cactus has become very corky over the years, so I don't think there's any hope of it re-shooting, unfortunately.

    🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    always give plants the benefit of the doubt, it may surprise you,

    if you leave a bit of stem (as in, cut a good couple of inches below any brown stuff) you may get regrowth this summer

  • pbffpbff Posts: 433

    Thanks for the advice, treehugger

    I shall be keeping my fingers crossed until summer!

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    🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌
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