Rot on dragon fruit cactus
Happy Saturday everyone :-) I recently noticed this rotting part on my dragonfruit, should I cut this section off? Also any advice on how to make this plant look any better would be greatly appreciated. The main part of the cactus is coming out of the soil because the rest is too heavy #HylocereusUndatus #CactusClique #HappyPlants
2
Best Answer
1-This is a sign of severe stem rot or dieback, likely caused by water sitting too long in the soil or a compromised root system.
2-the plant is very skinny and stretched out (etiolated) because it is searching for much stronger light.
3- it's trailing on the floor instead of climbing like it wants to.
4-The main base in the pot is likely too far gone to save, but the great news is that your plant has already done half the work to save itself! If you look at image those white, hair-like tendrils shooting off the green stems are aerial roots.
5-The absolute best way to fix this plant is to do a complete propagation reset.
6-Here is the step-by-step rescue plan:
Step 1: Harvest Healthy Cuttings
Take clean scissors or a knife and cut off the firm, vibrant green sections of the stems.
Avoid any part that is yellow, brown, woody, or mushy.
7-Cut them into manageable sections (around 6 to 10 inches long). Try to keep sections that already have some of those white aerial roots attached, as they will turn into subterranean roots very quickly!
8-Let Them Callous
Lay your healthy green cuttings out on a paper towel in a dry place for 3 to 5 days.
The cut ends need to dry out completely and form a thick, dry "scab" (callous). If you plant them while they are still wet, they will absorb too much moisture and rot just like the stem in image.
9-Pot into Chunky, Fast-Draining Soil
Throw away the old soil and the dead base.
Grab a clean pot with good drainage holes and fill it with a very loose, chunky soil mix. (An ideal mix would be a succulent/cactus soil blended with plenty of perlite and orchid bark to keep it airy).
10-Plant your calloused cuttings right-side-up about 2 inches deep into the soil.
11-Give It a Trellis & Way More Light
Add a Stake: Dragon fruit are climbing jungle cacti. Insert a sturdy moss pole, wooden stake, or small trellis into the pot and gently tie the cuttings to it. Climbing triggers them to grow much thicker, healthier stems.
12-Blast it with Light: Move the new pot to your absolute sunniest window, or right underneath a strong grow light. The reason the stems are so thin and spindly in the image is a lack of light. Intense light will make the new growth wide, sturdy, and strong.
13-Water Sparingly
Don't water the cuttings for the first week after potting. After that, give it a thorough soak only when the soil has completely dried out.
14-a good sunny window or a grow light where you can place the new cuttings once they're potted up
2-the plant is very skinny and stretched out (etiolated) because it is searching for much stronger light.
3- it's trailing on the floor instead of climbing like it wants to.
4-The main base in the pot is likely too far gone to save, but the great news is that your plant has already done half the work to save itself! If you look at image those white, hair-like tendrils shooting off the green stems are aerial roots.
5-The absolute best way to fix this plant is to do a complete propagation reset.
6-Here is the step-by-step rescue plan:
Step 1: Harvest Healthy Cuttings
Take clean scissors or a knife and cut off the firm, vibrant green sections of the stems.
Avoid any part that is yellow, brown, woody, or mushy.
7-Cut them into manageable sections (around 6 to 10 inches long). Try to keep sections that already have some of those white aerial roots attached, as they will turn into subterranean roots very quickly!
8-Let Them Callous
Lay your healthy green cuttings out on a paper towel in a dry place for 3 to 5 days.
The cut ends need to dry out completely and form a thick, dry "scab" (callous). If you plant them while they are still wet, they will absorb too much moisture and rot just like the stem in image.
9-Pot into Chunky, Fast-Draining Soil
Throw away the old soil and the dead base.
Grab a clean pot with good drainage holes and fill it with a very loose, chunky soil mix. (An ideal mix would be a succulent/cactus soil blended with plenty of perlite and orchid bark to keep it airy).
10-Plant your calloused cuttings right-side-up about 2 inches deep into the soil.
11-Give It a Trellis & Way More Light
Add a Stake: Dragon fruit are climbing jungle cacti. Insert a sturdy moss pole, wooden stake, or small trellis into the pot and gently tie the cuttings to it. Climbing triggers them to grow much thicker, healthier stems.
12-Blast it with Light: Move the new pot to your absolute sunniest window, or right underneath a strong grow light. The reason the stems are so thin and spindly in the image is a lack of light. Intense light will make the new growth wide, sturdy, and strong.
13-Water Sparingly
Don't water the cuttings for the first week after potting. After that, give it a thorough soak only when the soil has completely dried out.
14-a good sunny window or a grow light where you can place the new cuttings once they're potted up
