Probably dumb question…
How do I know if my cactus is dead? It hasn’t done much of anything in 6 months, and I’m just curious if I’m proudly displaying a dead plant in my house? 😂
#CactusClique #Cacti #Thelocactus #NotSoHappyPlants
#CactusClique #Cacti #Thelocactus #NotSoHappyPlants
2” pot
Last watered 4 months ago
13
Best Answer
From the pic, it looks like there's still green for sh under the dry spines. That is good.
Cacti need soil and it water. Not very much or often. Plan to report Lil Prick. If need be, cut off dead roots and bottom to get expose healthy flesh, and give it a few days to a week for it to callous over. For soil, Miracle Grow (non organic) cactus and succulent soil has slow release fertilizer. Try a 35% soil to 65% perrlite ratio.
In my experience, cacti thrive when their base is almost level with the top of the pot. Drainage is important.
Please keep us updated 😍
Cacti need soil and it water. Not very much or often. Plan to report Lil Prick. If need be, cut off dead roots and bottom to get expose healthy flesh, and give it a few days to a week for it to callous over. For soil, Miracle Grow (non organic) cactus and succulent soil has slow release fertilizer. Try a 35% soil to 65% perrlite ratio.
In my experience, cacti thrive when their base is almost level with the top of the pot. Drainage is important.
Please keep us updated 😍
@WildNorth Hi Sarah, give it a little tug with some tongs or tweezers, if it comes out easily than its most likely dead. You could very well take it out of the pot to check the root system to which would be easy to do too.
@YammieOf3 @EconomicSoybean @DesertGreen thanks y’all. I did the tweezer test and the thing is sharp as ever. But the root system is like, non existent. I have a 100% fail rate for cacti, but this one is a mystery!
I’ll post an update, but no one get their hopes up—I think it’s only holding onto its needles because there’s still some water/nutrients inside, but I’m pretty sure it’s shrinking, so… RIP (probably)
I’ll post an update, but no one get their hopes up—I think it’s only holding onto its needles because there’s still some water/nutrients inside, but I’m pretty sure it’s shrinking, so… RIP (probably)
@DesertGreen ok, I have renewed hope! It certainly is not doing well, but these spines are sharp as hell and firmly attached; however there is VERY LITTLE left to the green ball (whatever you wanna call it 😂) and the roots looked calloused over… is that a thing? I scraped off the dry brown stuff and put it in some fresh peat, then gave it a couple pumps of the orange bottle stuff, and it’s in my greenhouse now. Fingers crossed!! 🤞
@WildNorth the roots having callous could be that it needed water awhile ago. Cacti are challenging; especially , watering. Honestly, I wait for them to either droopiness or the wrinkles. By accident, last month, I left an Eve’s Needle soaking overnight (outside), and within 24hrs, she grew so much and color came back on her tips. So, get another one 😁
P.S gently use tongs for moving your next cactus.
P.S gently use tongs for moving your next cactus.
@DesertGreen don’t know what orange stuff, unless you’re referring to the pot liner or the pebbles, but I think you are right—at some point I likely had it in the wrong soil and either over- or under-watered it until it calloused over and then lived off its own nutrients as long as it could… eventually shriveled into the size of a marble, so 🤷🏻♀️ TBH I had no idea how to care for a cactus—I just thought they were cool, so this was sad but unsurprising. (Good call on the tongs! Not sure why that’s a lesson I have to learn repeatedly 😂) … anyway I actually have an eve’s needle that I don’t have a clue what to do with! Should I try your accidental approach, or do you have any pointers?? (No pun intended)
On the bright side, my monkeys tail is looking very happy in lil prick’s old spot!
On the bright side, my monkeys tail is looking very happy in lil prick’s old spot!