Rot or Something Else?
My Queen of the Night cactus has started turning black/brown on the tips. She looked fine two days ago, then yesterday the tip blackened, so I cut it back below the color change and dusted the cut with cinnamon. This is her today… Please help me save her! She’s my ultimate wishlist plant and was given to me by a generous #plantfairy ! I feel like I’m failing her 😭😭
A little background…
Water: Had not been watered since at least February, possibly longer. She looked shriveled/dehydrated, so I gave her about a teaspoon of water on Thursday. Water was from the tap. She started turning black the following morning.
Pot/soil: She is in a 4” terracotta pot with drainage. The soil is a loose cactus soil I bought on Etsy. It seems to have a high percentage of sand, pumice, and perhaps haydite.
Light: She had been next to/below an east facing window, and got next to no direct light. I just put her on my patio in a spot that gets bright shade.
I’ve tried looking on the internet for help, and the consensus seems to be overwatering, but I’m not sure that’s the case since she hadn’t had water in months… If anyone has experience with this, I would be so grateful! I really don’t want her to die 😩
bloomingCereus">#NightbloomingCereus #QueenOfTheNight #CactusClique #NotSoHappyPlants
A little background…
Water: Had not been watered since at least February, possibly longer. She looked shriveled/dehydrated, so I gave her about a teaspoon of water on Thursday. Water was from the tap. She started turning black the following morning.
Pot/soil: She is in a 4” terracotta pot with drainage. The soil is a loose cactus soil I bought on Etsy. It seems to have a high percentage of sand, pumice, and perhaps haydite.
Light: She had been next to/below an east facing window, and got next to no direct light. I just put her on my patio in a spot that gets bright shade.
I’ve tried looking on the internet for help, and the consensus seems to be overwatering, but I’m not sure that’s the case since she hadn’t had water in months… If anyone has experience with this, I would be so grateful! I really don’t want her to die 😩
bloomingCereus">#NightbloomingCereus #QueenOfTheNight #CactusClique #NotSoHappyPlants
12ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 6 months ago
7
Best Answer
@ESylvanus yeah it’s always best to underwater rather than overwater but if they start showing signs of wrinkles and dehydration then you know it’s time to water. I try to only water when the cacti or succulent starts to look like it needs water. Each one is different. Also try a soilless cactus mix like rabbit hill farms makes. It drains and dries fast since no organic material and helps prevent rotting. Some cacti and succulents you can squeeze test to judge if they need to be watered. If they feel noticeably soft and squishy then you know it’s time to water. But if they feel firm or harder or only slightly dehydrated then you can wait a couple more days and snooze
@SirLiquorice I haven’t watered more than once a month, and usually less 🫣
I had another cutting that I watered on Greg’s schedule, and it turned black and died a few months after I transitioned it to soil. I assumed it had been overwatered, so I cut way back on this one.
I had another cutting that I watered on Greg’s schedule, and it turned black and died a few months after I transitioned it to soil. I assumed it had been overwatered, so I cut way back on this one.
@Sassylimey Thank you! I’ll try using RO or rain water next time instead of tap!