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magic myc
hermit



Registered: 02/19/15
Posts: 73
Loc: where you wish you were
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What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help!
#26987684 - 10/15/20 09:23 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hello all! I havent posted here for years but a question popped up and Shroomery was the first place I thought I could get an answer. Is the cactus in the pics here recovering? It is a 4 year old, seed grown L. Williamsii. I know the last year of its life has been rough though. It was set in the sun outside and a slug got onto it and did some damage... you can see the dried up "holes" it ate in the pics. Little bugger! Either way, it also got too much water I'd say over a few weeks this summer. It was taken indoors , dried out some and acclimated to a southern window with a daylight type LED light as supplement. This will be its winter home most likely. The big question... is the rib that has totally shriveled good or bad? I mean, obviously bad but is this cactus recovering? I have no clue what caused the rib to die, but it seems to only have effected the one rib. Will this cactus recover and resume it's slow life as is? Would anyone recommend removing the shriveled material? I dont know if it would be better left in place? Any advice is welcome. I am not new to cacti by any means, but this is my first question regarding this breed. It's hard judging by pics alone, but I'm hoping this is a recovering cactus. Maybe even see some unique growth from it in a few years?you think it will "pup" at the missing rib? Any guesses? Thanks for any info!
-------------------- It is important always, to try new things...
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magic myc
hermit



Registered: 02/19/15
Posts: 73
Loc: where you wish you were
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Re: What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help! [Re: magic myc]
#26989226 - 10/16/20 09:47 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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Nobody has any tips for this cactus? I cant imagine one of you guys hasnt dealt with this before? Anybody have an opinion even? So far, this little guy is still trucking along... but I'd love to know what to expect. Generally I would think the cactus will recover and resume growth... possibly in an interesting way even. I've had a hard time Killing any cactus with even the most basic knowledge of care. This one got the worst damage of any, but I believe it will survive? I'd really appreciate even opinions. I just want some input on my sitch-EE-ation here. ANY info is much appreciated.
-------------------- It is important always, to try new things...
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islanduniverse


Registered: 02/26/10
Posts: 1,963
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help! [Re: magic myc]
#26989889 - 10/17/20 10:43 AM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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it doesn't look good to me.... 
i'm not sure what can be done if anything. i would probably just leave it alone and hope for the best, but it looks like the damage is spreading to the center and probably will damage the apical meristem and then you won't really get any growth.
the most annoying problem i've had trying to grow cactus is mealy bugs, but i don't think you have that otherwise the other ribs wouldn't still be plump.
did the snail also hit the rib that has deteriorated?
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Mateo
High on LIFE!



Registered: 06/24/11
Posts: 2,689
Loc: North Europe
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help! [Re: islanduniverse]
#26997987 - 10/22/20 01:40 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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I would guess its the period with too much water that resulted in that damage. It could be other reasons but i would guess the water/too wet. It will probably recover if cared for but it will have this visual flaw that will get less and less noticeable as it grows bigger. Too much water/humidity in soil is the most common killer of Lophs. I dont know if those big decorative stones in the pot are good. I have bad experiences with such stones that i also used long time ago. More smaller pea sized evenly distributed stones i found to be better. I guess really good drainage is more important than those big stones, and the soilmix should not be able to hold lots of water, it should drain off so the loph and its roots dont get high moisture over longer periods as it get water damage quite quickly.
-------------------- A wise rat has many holes
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magic myc
hermit



Registered: 02/19/15
Posts: 73
Loc: where you wish you were
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Re: What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help! [Re: Mateo]
#26998998 - 10/23/20 01:37 AM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks so much for your reply! And for the bad news, I like it straight, lol. I tried to stay positive, but have started to realize this isnt good. The snail DID do damage to the damaged rib. Could I cut the cactus head off completely and hope the root survives and puts off pups? I mean, that would be the last thing I'd want to have done, but if it could save the cactus. But that would basically be a death sentence I reckon, and just hoping for a miracle after. I think I'll just leave her and see what happens honestly. I scored another LW that is a little older, and I'm pretty happy at its condition! Cacti are tough, I've seen that proved many times. But, they can sustain damage too great, freeze, yada yada you know lol, they die I've proven that a few times. Wish us luck anyway! I'd hate to lose the girl.
-------------------- It is important always, to try new things...
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magic myc
hermit



Registered: 02/19/15
Posts: 73
Loc: where you wish you were
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Re: What's wrong with my Cactus? Please help! [Re: magic myc]
#26999005 - 10/23/20 01:48 AM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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My wife added the stones! I've currently been using hand sifted gravel from the freshwater stream in front of my families cabin in the woods. I went out one day and sifted and separated all different sizes. I cleaned it all, dried and packaged it and have been using it in every form and size from sand to pea size gravel. This LW is actually in my old potting mix. My soil mix changed recently and upgraded I feel, to a better LW mix with the new, older LW cactus that has since been aquired. Would I benefit from removing the plant and letting it dry out a few days/weeks/months in a closet etc? Then trying to repot it and see what happens? I could see that helping maybe? I KNOW this cactus got too much water, several times over a period of time... wonder who is to blame? Maybe the same person as the decorative stones? Lol! What are ya gonna do lol. Would this baby benefit from coming out of the soil for a bit? Leave as is? That's my current plan, leave as is and see how she goes. I appreciate the reply very much! She'll look fine to me however if she can just make it through. I hate that the cactus is deformed, but if it survives, I feel it could turn quite interesting (in 10 years or so, lol!)
-------------------- It is important always, to try new things...
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