Need help saving my cactus!!

[GreeeeN GRassss]

hey i need some help and finding information on cactie, im having trouble finding out how to save my sick looking cactus. this cactus means alot to me as my girlfriends purchased it for me on a trip to the US last year and i proposed to her over there, so id like to keep it as a nice memory..

it had mold on the roots when i got it so i re potted it and it has not changed much over the past year only looks worse. its just been sitting by the window, i have givien it some cactus feed at 1/4 strenght but i have stopped no since winter is here..

any advice ?

 

[Capt.Ahab]

Bummer. May be terminal but there are a few things you can try.
http://www.ehow.com/how_12126614_treat-cactus-fungus.html

You may be able to cut the top of the cactus off if it looks like it isnt infected and root the top in a new pot with new soil.
Info. here. http://www.alexandgregory.com/Cactus%20expert%202.html#Rotten

 

[nattynattygurrl]

I’ve never had the best of luck with cactus, however, Unclefishsticks seems to be really good with succulents and cacti, (his thread is impressive!); I would ask him, if you don’t have any luck with Ahab’s suggestions/links.

Good luck GG!

 

[yortbogey]

ask Unclefishstick..... he's the cactus man round hear....

 

[yortbogey]

looks like over watering in soil that is to dense....

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

thanks alot guys ill look into the links from above and ill ask unclefishstick

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

i only watered before i took the pictures, i usually let it dry out before i water, its been a few weeks since the last time i did and the soil was well dry today..

 

[unclefishstick]

your planting mix is way too rich for a cactus i can tell that straight off...
it being so close to winter i would suggest waiting until spring before doing anything to it.most cactus like a wintertime rest period in a cool but well lit spot with very very little watering.as in maybe a light spray with a spray bottle once a month.
stop feeding it,without strong light it can do more harm than good.
any other info you can give,if you know what it is that might be helpful...cactus are tough but also easy to kill....leave it alone for a bit...

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

thanks for stopping by unclefishstick, im not sure what sort of cactus it is. i have not giving it food for over a month. when i got the cactus first i put it in a pot that maybe was to big so i repotted into a smaller pot and i used soil from local shop. i did have it under my 600watt on flower cycle for a week or so to see what would happen..

lately i have just been letting it do its thing. Unclefish do you think it will get better survive?

 

[unclefishstick]

is that just dirt on the cactus?

is that spot low down sort of mushy?

are those white spots sort of like sticky cotton candy?

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

yes thats just some soil on it, no theres no mushy parts on it yet, the cactus seems consistant to the touch the whole way around it.. its hard to tell with the white spots there very small but there not sticky..

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

while trying to see what the white spots are all the prickly parts are falling off. this seems like a bad sign ?

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

some of my other cacti

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

got a little shock when she started to flower

 

[unclefishstick]

it kinda looks like some mealy bugs,see if you can spray them off with some water...

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

thanks man ill give it a go. cant seem to give you any rep yet..

 

[maryjaneismyfre]

I second that the mix is too rich, get some sandy mix, with red desert dirt and keep it dry.. It's rotting, most likely some fungus. Repot the plant in some good draining sandy mix and put somewhere warm and sunny and dry. If the bottom is rotten, cut off the top and allow to callous and replant to root.
The San Pedro and friends like a rich well-draining mix but those desert cacti like a sandy gritty mix.

If little fluffy mealy bugs, a teaspoon of dishwash and a tablespoon of cooking oil to a litre of warm water and shaken in to form an emulsion and sprayed on them will suffocate them. Don't spray the oil mixture on plants more than once a week.

 

[GreeeeN GRassss]

ill go to the local garden center and see what they have, im not sure weather they have anything like you describe seems like every place only has standard potting compost..

the compost that that cactus is in now would the nutrients not bee used up or washed out of it? its in that soil a few months now. if i mixed perlite thru it would that help.

 

[bigshrimp]

Even weak compost will have plenty of nutes for a long time. Cactus just don't need npk like canna does.

Good advice from all, just want to second of third or fourth... getting sand in there.

They have quite fine and delicate root systems so the less you disturb them the better.

 

[unclefishstick]

well its not so much that cactus dont use much nutrients,its simply that they are adapted to use less when conditions arent as good...and many desert areas have abundant mineral resources in the soil,just not much organic matter...everything sort of happens in slow motion with cactus...

something you may want to look into,guessing from those last pics you are in england/europe someplace,there are several fine collections in botanical gardens over there,and undoubtedly a few cactus and succulent societies nearby,they can clue you in on how to keep your cactus thriving in your local conditions...i have it easy,i live in the desert so most cactus are going to do well here..indeed i have around 20 species in ground and most of them should survive the winter just fine...