Question

Cactus   QUESTION: This cactus is getting brown on the stalks and starting to fall over somewhat.  What could be wrong?  It did this last winter, but got strong and green again in the summer when put outside.

ANSWER: Michael,

It is drying and forming the brown skin because of the lower indoor humidity. I suspect that it is leaning toward the light from the window. It may also be getting a bit weaker from the lack of light that it gets indoors compared to the light that it got outdoors during the summer. Turn it weekly on Saturday and that should help. You can also put a wood or bamboo stake in the pot and tie it up. Good luck.

Darlene

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sick   QUESTION: Thank you i thought it was a fungus. I worry because it is getting everywhere on the plant and it will fall all over not just by the light. Would you happen to know what type of catus plant this is and is there a way to stop the spread of all the brown spots
thank you
Michael

ANSWER: Michael,

I am consulting a friend who is a cactus expert on what exactly it is. In the meantime could you tell me how often you water it? Also is it sitting in front of a south facing window with drapes and mini blinds open all day every day so that it gets the maximum amount of sun possible?

Darlene



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help   QUESTION: Hi Darlene and thank you for your advise. The cactus doesnt seem to matter if it is near the light or not because it is falling on all sides if i dont tie it up it will look like nated hair as it is still falling. Were you able to find out what kind of cactus this is. I water it once every three weeks to a mounth i dont know if it is getting to much or not as i have other cactus and no problem.I didnt think humidity would be a problem because out in the desert there isnt hardly any from what i understand i dont know. It is geting nickle size tanish brown spots everywhere and i dont want to loose the plant i know once it gets them they dont go away. I have it in a south west window the problem it is winter and it snows out so i cant put it out on my deck in 25 or below temps. The blinds are open  but im in a residental area and a 70 foot maple in the yard so the sun is limited. Please let me know what else to do and thank you for your help...Michael

Answer
Michael,

It does matter whether it is near the light. You won't notice a difference in a couple of weeks but cacti live in the desert where they get sun all day long. It also needs to get totally dry between waterings. Watering every 2 weeks is enough in the winter or even just once a month if the plant is not in a location that it gets at least 4 hours of actual sun in the winter. If they do not get enough sun over a long period of time like all winter or if it is too wet all the time it weakens the plant. Your plant is a variety of opuntia cactus. I believe it is Opuntia (Grusonia) reflexispina or a close relative of that.

If the brown spots are on the lower portions of the plant and they are firm or hard spots it is just the trunk of the plant getting woody as it ages. It will eventually look like tree bark. If the spots are soft in the middle you plant could have contracted a bacterial or fungal infection and that can be because it is not getting enough sun or too much water. If you think it is a bacterial or fungal infection. Try spraying it every 3 days with Lysol type spray. Keep the can 12 inches from the plant when you are spraying and make sure you get the fronts, backs, top and bottoms of all stems and trunks.Do this consistently until the brown spots go away or the plant has not formed any new ones for at least 2 weeks.

It sounds like it is in a good location, just keep the blinds and drapes open from dawn to dusk and have the plant as close to the window as possible. It should preferably be next to the window on the window sill. If it is a foot away from the window it will get half the sun it would get next to the window. When there is snow on the ground it will reflect light back up at the plant from the ground and help give it more light. With the leaves off the Maple it should not block much of the light. As soon as night temperatures are above 50 degrees consistently you can put it outdoors. I am in northern Indiana near Fort Wayne so I know that is a ways away. Good luck!

Darlene