Adapted to living in desert conditions, these cacti are often heavily armed with spines. When most people think of cacti, this type usually comes to mind. For more information on Common Houseplants see HGIC 2252, Common Houseplants Insects & Related Pests. You may be able to hand-pick off a light infestation, but you might have to discard the plant if it is heavily infested.
Scale can also occur and is more difficult to control. Make sure that the spray you use is labeled for cacti and follow label directions carefully. Houseplant insecticide sprays or insecticidal soaps can be used for control. Check new plants carefully for pests before purchase. Root and stem rots usually result from a soil mix that does not drain quickly or overly frequent watering.Īphids, spider mites and mealy bugs are the major pests of cacti.
Cactus that has soft thorns plus#
Too much water plus insects and mites are the main problems. In the home, plant diseases are rarely a problem. These features allow the plant to withstand periods of drought, a common occurrence in the habitats where cacti grow.Ĭacti exhibit beauty in their symmetry of form as well as in their brightly colored flowers. Most cacti grow slowly to moderately as houseplants, usually only a few inches a year. They may grow as upright columns, as spreading clumps, limited only by the size of their container, as hanging baskets or as thorny ornamental balls. Smith, HGIC, Clemson Extension Height/SpreadĬacti vary from a few inches tall to giants that will eventually outgrow the space in your house. This method of propagation will produce a healthy cactus that is the same as the parent plant.Pincushion cactus ( Mammillaria elegans) has long-lasting rings of magenta flowers. Rooting the cutting may take several weeks. Allow the cutting to callus over for a few days before you insert it into the sand. You should wash the roots off well before replanting in a fresh potting medium.Ī soft, mushy cactus can also be saved by taking cuttings and letting them root for a fresh new plant. You can try to repot the plant, removing diseased soil and replacing it with sterile soil. If the damage has infected the roots, there is very little you can do. Don’t water overhead as the wound closes. Use a sharp sterile knife to dig out the damaged flesh and allow the hole to dry out. Most cacti respond well to excising the diseased tissue. Treating Cactus Rot IssuesĬactus problems that have gotten into the root usually result in a slowly dying plant, while topical issues in the upper body can be treated easily. You may even notice some oozing of your cactus plants. Symptoms to watch for include small sunken spots, discolored scabs, round soft areas surrounded by fruiting bodies, and black or other colored dots on the surface of the cacti skin. Once the organism takes hold in your plant, you will see soft, mushy cactus. Warm, moist conditions accelerate the production of fungi spores and increase bacterial production. The action of injury isn’t important, but the damage from fungal spores or bacteria is crucial. The open areas may be from insect or animal activity, damage from inanimate objects, or heavy weather, such as hail. Cactus Problems with Fungal and Bacterial Diseasesīacteria and fungus are introduced to the plant from openings in the flesh. Cactus rot issues must be dealt with quickly to prevent spread to the rest of the plant and serious loss of vigor, which may become permanent. The reasons for such spots may be disease or simply mechanical injury to the pads and stems of the cacti. These may be discolored or corky around the spot and the center is mushy and wet.
A common problem is soft spots in the flesh of the plant. In-ground plants have similar requirements.Īs with any plant, cacti can become diseased or damaged. Potted plants need good drainage holes and a soil mix with plenty of grit. (21-24 C.) in sunny locations and require little supplemental nutrients. They thrive in temperatures above 70 to 75 F. Likely causes are disease, cultivation, and improper site and ambient conditions.Ĭacti generally have low moisture needs. The arid gardener may ask, “Why is my cactus going soft?”. One of the telltale signs of a problem is a soft, mushy cactus. Cactus problems may range from sucking pests, like whitefly, to common rots from bacteria or fungal disease. The pests and problems common to the plant group are minimal and usually easy to surmount. The succulents need little more than the sun, well-drained soil, and rare moisture. Cacti are remarkably durable and low in maintenance.