Help! Withering pencil cactus
I got this plant in December and he was doing fine. But then he started withering and dropping and I’m not sure what to do! #PencilCactus
2ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 minutes ago
5
@tinyladysplants
Welcome to Greg…
Nice Cactus…
It may need more water or sun. For watering, you may have to check the soil. It looks dry to me from the picture you sent. The leaves look shriveled, which could mean it needs water as well. Your cactus looks healthy. I wouldn’t worry too much.
Make sure to stick to a consistant watering schedule. Cacti are succulents, they do not need a lot of water because they store it in their leaves and stems, however, only water when soil is completely dry throughout. You can use a toothpick to test the soil. If you insert the toothpick into the soil and there is wet soil stuck to the pick when you take it out, it is not time to water. When there is no soil on the end of the toothpick when you pull it out, it’s time to water it. Also, when the leaves start to look shriveled, it’s time to water it. It’s very easy to overwater succulents. Succulents do not like soggy/soaked soil, but give it enough water so it is wet throughout. I also recommend bottom watering as well as to watering. Succulents develop root rot really easily from over watering. Make sure you are using well draining cactus soil as well. I recommend Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix… Also, your Pencil Cactus needs 6-8 hours of full/direct sun during the growing season (spring/summer). When grown indoors it will benefit from at least 4-5 hours of bright direct light daily. I would recommend lacing it by a window that gets direct sun.)
I hope this helps!
Good Luck!
Welcome to Greg…
Nice Cactus…
It may need more water or sun. For watering, you may have to check the soil. It looks dry to me from the picture you sent. The leaves look shriveled, which could mean it needs water as well. Your cactus looks healthy. I wouldn’t worry too much.
Make sure to stick to a consistant watering schedule. Cacti are succulents, they do not need a lot of water because they store it in their leaves and stems, however, only water when soil is completely dry throughout. You can use a toothpick to test the soil. If you insert the toothpick into the soil and there is wet soil stuck to the pick when you take it out, it is not time to water. When there is no soil on the end of the toothpick when you pull it out, it’s time to water it. Also, when the leaves start to look shriveled, it’s time to water it. It’s very easy to overwater succulents. Succulents do not like soggy/soaked soil, but give it enough water so it is wet throughout. I also recommend bottom watering as well as to watering. Succulents develop root rot really easily from over watering. Make sure you are using well draining cactus soil as well. I recommend Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix… Also, your Pencil Cactus needs 6-8 hours of full/direct sun during the growing season (spring/summer). When grown indoors it will benefit from at least 4-5 hours of bright direct light daily. I would recommend lacing it by a window that gets direct sun.)
I hope this helps!
Good Luck!
@tinyladysplants
After I throughly water my succulents, the soil stays wet for at least a month. I don’t have to do too much to them. Succulents may seem tricky to take care of at first, however once you get the watering and sunlight schedule down, they are very easy to take care of.
After I throughly water my succulents, the soil stays wet for at least a month. I don’t have to do too much to them. Succulents may seem tricky to take care of at first, however once you get the watering and sunlight schedule down, they are very easy to take care of.
@tinyladysplants Yara, welcome to Greg!
Sorry to hear your pencil cactus isn’t well. After looking at your card, it seems you may be watering enough however your plant may need to be much closer to the light source or you can opt to purchase an alternate light source for it. I’m not sure what kind of soil your cactus has but cacti really need a very fast draining soil or growing medium along with bright light to help it dry fast enough to stay healthy.
My suggestion is to start with the obvious: check your soil moisture and pull the plant from the root to check the roots. If the soil around the roots or what’s left in the pot is moist (if you didn’t water today or anytime after 11days ago) then you know your soil is not draining nor drying properly. If this is the problem, you can get perlite to mix with fresh new soil specifically for cacti and use that as a growing medium.
I wouldn’t water for another week or so if the soil was moist because your plant’s roots need to dry a bit more before getting water.
If your soil is dry, then you have been under watering which leads to the same problem as overwatering. A plant will start to dry and shrivel if it’s in its growing season but doesn’t get enough water. You can slowly give it a few extra sips here and there to see if it helps but it may not. Most times, it does but often, once the limbs are damaged, they need yo be trimmed off yo protect the rest of the plant.
Also, look closely in the soil you use because some pests like yo suck the water out of plants and they only come out at night after 10pm. I like to stay up and watch my plant while I wait after 10pm to see if any pests will come up out of the soil and start causing damage. If you find any, giving your plant a spritz of dish soap mixed with water to suffocate the little pests is ok.
Additionally, many others have provided excellent advice and I hope you can find the cause and help your plant recover.
Good luck and Happy Growing!🌿
Sorry to hear your pencil cactus isn’t well. After looking at your card, it seems you may be watering enough however your plant may need to be much closer to the light source or you can opt to purchase an alternate light source for it. I’m not sure what kind of soil your cactus has but cacti really need a very fast draining soil or growing medium along with bright light to help it dry fast enough to stay healthy.
My suggestion is to start with the obvious: check your soil moisture and pull the plant from the root to check the roots. If the soil around the roots or what’s left in the pot is moist (if you didn’t water today or anytime after 11days ago) then you know your soil is not draining nor drying properly. If this is the problem, you can get perlite to mix with fresh new soil specifically for cacti and use that as a growing medium.
I wouldn’t water for another week or so if the soil was moist because your plant’s roots need to dry a bit more before getting water.
If your soil is dry, then you have been under watering which leads to the same problem as overwatering. A plant will start to dry and shrivel if it’s in its growing season but doesn’t get enough water. You can slowly give it a few extra sips here and there to see if it helps but it may not. Most times, it does but often, once the limbs are damaged, they need yo be trimmed off yo protect the rest of the plant.
Also, look closely in the soil you use because some pests like yo suck the water out of plants and they only come out at night after 10pm. I like to stay up and watch my plant while I wait after 10pm to see if any pests will come up out of the soil and start causing damage. If you find any, giving your plant a spritz of dish soap mixed with water to suffocate the little pests is ok.
Additionally, many others have provided excellent advice and I hope you can find the cause and help your plant recover.
Good luck and Happy Growing!🌿
I have had my Pencil Cactus 6+ years. I water it every 2 weeks. If Greg wants me to water, I always check with a water meter or wood str stick. I have to snooze sometimes. I like to wait until the soil is dry . It is by a south window
