Question
Dear Expert,

about three years ago I bought a pot full of assorted cacti. Two of them died, and three were left and kept growing. One of them died recently, after becoming mushy to the touch and leaking some kind of yellowish water. The remaining two seem to be dying with the same 'symptoms'. The reason I tell you how old these cacti are is because I want to know if maybe they died of age. They are apparently both dying from the same thing. The soil was also very dry when I found out they were dying. Do you think I can save them?
Thank you.

Answer
Sarah,

When the center of a cactus is mushy it is too late. That is usually a symptom of too much water or it can occasionally be from a fungal infection. If the pot did not have a drain hole in the bottom then I guarantee that it was from too much water because water laid in the bottom for long periods until the plant used it up even if it seemed very dry on the surface. If the ones that are left are not completely mushy you can cut away the mushy parts and repot the catus into a smaller pot (since there are fewer plants) with a drainage hole and make sure you never allow water to sit in the drain tray.  Then only give it a little water every 2 weeks and sit it in the sunniest window you have. That is the only possible way you can save it. If you buy another cactus pot make sure it has a drain hole and make sure you never allow water to sit in the drain tray.  Then only give it a little water every 2 weeks and sit it in the sunniest window you have. That would keep it healthy. Good luck.

Darlene