Why is my cactus squishy

Wilted, overwatered plants are not always a lost cause. Move your plant to a shady area even if it is a full-sun plant. Check your pot for proper drainage and, if possible, create additional air space around the roots. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it get too dry.

Treat with a fungicide. It's not sunburn, which usually causes a silver or gray appearance before the foliage turns brown, or black - then brown. Why is my cactus squishy? Category: home and garden landscaping. Potted plants need good drainage holes and a soil mix with plenty of grit. A common problem is soft spots in the flesh of the plant.

These may be discolored or corky around the spot and the center is mushy and wet. The reasons for such spots may be disease or simply mechanical injury to the pads and stems of the cacti. What does an overwatered cactus look like? Symptoms of Overwatering in Cactus. How often should Cactus be watered? Is my cactus dehydrated? Can a cactus get too much sun? Why is my cactus going limp? How do you know when a succulent needs water? Signs Your Succulent Needs Water. How do I know if my cactus is healthy?

Plump and Full Leaves. Is it possible to bring a cactus back to life? Can you save a cactus that has been overwatered? Do cacti heal themselves? How do I protect my cactus from root rot?

Luckily, propagating a cactus is really easy and straightforward. You can propagate through cuttings and the process is fairly simple. You need to take a generous cutting from your cactus, leave it for a few days to dry out, and then repot into some fresh soil! Check out this article by Gardeners World for a really easy tutorial on cactus propagation. A softy, mushy and squishy cactus is not ideal for anyone! But hopefully, you now have a better understanding of why it is happening.

To recap, a cactus will go squishy because of:. As a result of this, you may end up with root rot. We have discussed whether or not a rotting cactus can be saved and I have given you my best tips on how to go about fixing the issue. In the meantime, why not check out some of my other posts on cactus care tips :. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Why is my cactus turning black? Why is my cactus turning white? Why Is My Cactus Shrinking? How often do cactus bloom? How to make cactus grow faster Why is my cactus floppy? Best Succulents for Offices How fast do succulents grow? Are coffee grounds good for succulents? Do Jade Plants Bloom? In this post hide. A conclusion 3. As mentioned above, a wide range of issues can cause cacti plants to start developing soft spots.

It could be a sign of an underlying disease or improper cultivation conditions such as poor drainage potting mix. Generally, cacti plants tend to have relatively low moisture needs. Most of them do well in temperatures above 70 o F in relatively sunny areas and require minimal supplemental nutrients.

Potted plants, in particular, require good drainage holes on the growing medium and nutritious potting mix with plenty of grit. In-ground cacti plants also have similar requirements.

The soil must be of good drainage and nutritious as well. Just like any other plant, cacti can develop diseases or get damaged. A common sign of an underlying disease or damage is the existence of soft spots on the stem of your plant.

These spots may also be discolored or corky depending on the extent of the damage. Poorly drained soils cause water to fill up air spaces between soil particles, which prevent the much-needed root aeration. The damp conditions also provide favorable conditions for fungi and harmful bacteria to multiply. As a result, the roots of your plant start to die, and disease-causing organisms get an opportunity to move into the stem tissue causing soft spots to start developing in different parts of the stem.

If you suspect that the problem is overwatering, then you need to stop being overzealous when watering your plant. Always wait until the top two inches of the soil are dry completely before you water again.

Other than creating a watering schedule, let the potting mix tell you when you need to water your succulent. For cactus growing in the ground, it takes much longer for the soil to dry out completely after watering. Consider using a probe to check the soil moisture before you water, again. Avoid watering your cactus if it rains. Your pet dog knocks over your indoor potted cactus, and it gets a slight nick in its skin near the soil line, or you unknowingly injure some roots while repotting your plant.

While these things might seem minute to you, they can cause extensive damage to the plant. The injured spots serve as openings that allow pathogens to find their way into plant tissues, causing extensive damage. Unfortunately, it might take you some time before you realize the actual cause of the problem.

To avoid such issues, always take time to check your plant for any wounds. You can do this at least once every week. If you discover any wounds during your inspection, be sure to treat them immediately.

One of the best ways of treating cactus wounds is by dusting on a cleanser that contains bleach until the wounded spot has scabbed over. Try as much as possible not to bring the wounded area in direct contact with water. It will take about one week for the cactus to form a scab, but it might take much longer if the wound is pretty large. During this time, take time to check the plant for any other physical damage on its stem, especially near the base.

All cacti species need well-draining soil to thrive. Heavy soils tend to retain water for a relatively long period , which might cause extensive damage to roots and allow diseases to develop. Be sure to use a well-prepared potting mix for your potted plants. If that is the case with your soil, consider adding perlite to it to enhance drainage. To help promote the rapid drying of the potting mix, avoid using a container that is too large for your plant.

Take time to find a right-size pot that will fit your plant size. For outdoor plants grown in the ground, take some time to thoroughly prepare the ground before you plant your cactus.

I let it dry out for two days, but I need to go back and finish it. The rest is in a harder to reach area. How would you suggest that I apply the Sulphur powder to the base?

I think this is stumping me. I believe natural sunlight will help kill the fungus. Do you believe that to be true? Thank you for much for your knowledgeable step by step instructions! You are a lifesaver. But I do know that there are powder duster tools that you can buy just for this purpose.

Check your local home improvement store, garden center, or search online to see if you can pick one up. I think that will make the job much easier for you. Hi, my cactus has been getting dry and brown in patches at the bottom.

Check to see if the brown patches on your cactus are soft or mushy. Otherwise, if the spots are dry and the cactus has new growth, then it may recover. Just be sure to water very, very sparingly. Let the soil get completely dry, and then give it a tiny bit of water. The soil should never be wet. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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Cactus rotting bottom up. Rot inside of the cactus stem. Removing cactus stem rot in layers.