I bought three grafted cacti today and when I replanted them I found one to be completely rotten between soil line and roots. I cut the rotten part off and pushed it in the soil. What are its chances to root out? Should I just throw it away and buy a new one? It looks like the needles getting brown on the yellow top part…
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Pretty good, actually. I’d take it out of the soil and let the cut callus over for a few days, then stick it back in.
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Ah, great! Do I need to do anything special to it when the cut callus over or just to push it in the same pot?
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You could probably put it in the same pot. Just go easy on the water.
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Jay has it right .
The new cut needs to dry , and callus over , then rooted again.
The problem being that top , the orange/ yellow part lacks chlorophyll, so it is dependent on the green bottom part for survival and now that part will be smaller.
I have never had any of those type of grafted cactus live more than a few years.
But …
The bottom green part is pitya ,dragon fruit ! A vining cactus,
Which can be grown , with support, as a very unruly house plant.
A project to keep in bounds , has one of the biggest , most beautiful flowers , and may fruit .
I have several , in five gallon buckets, tomatoecage for support.
One extremely large sprawling , have had some amazing flowers, but no fruit yet .
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Wow, I don’t think I can keep it growing that much! I have the same experience, the grafted do not live long, but for me usually the green part that start to rotten. But that’s ok, I like the look.
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This year we are trying something new. 50%/50% miracle grow potting soil and large grain "all purpose " sand from Lowe’s in clay containers.
Tired of rotting out too many cactus and succulents.
I like heavy containers for the rare hurricane or heavy wind storm. The yucca, sedums, galardia, sempervivum and weird border line hardy succulents seem to be enjoying it. Watching the ‘dry’ line slide down the clay containers tells me when to water them.
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I have several cacti here. I have learned that over watering is often their doom. Especially in the winter. The roots will rot if over watered in the winter months.
A well draining soil mix is important.
Many cacti have a hinged , pleated stem shape , allowing them to expand to store water. Like a accordion.
They can store a lot of water inside their stems .I use the degree of plumpness of the stems as to if I need to water. Essentially keeping the soil dry , for the most part. Only watering when I notice the stem collapse like a deflated accordion.
It seems they like water when it’s warm. Not during the cold months .
I have a 6ft+ what I think is blue Myrtle cactus, that is going to bloom for the first time this year , i am excited to see the bloom !
Here is the developing bloom.
And a cutting that is swollen, well hydrated.
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