Welcome to the forum . It looks like at some point it didn't get enough sun because of the enlongated growth. I would think that you can cut off the top portion and let it dry out and repot. Maybe someone with experience with this cactus species can chime in with their opinion.

I'm with Nino here. Looks like substrate is has too much organic material.

Plants can be suprising sometimes. Just when we are about to give up on it the plant resurrects itself.

Nice set-up. Where are you located ? You have no Avatar or geo-location available.

Very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing. Now that the first picture has been pointed out and it's been suggested the A. fissuratus could be considerably old notice how the placing of the rocks are around the cactus. It's almost like the rocks were strategically placed around the cactus. I guess over ...

Welcome !

We had a Melocactus expert on the forum who gave us the benefit of his long experience. Unfortunately the photos in his presentation disappeared some years ago, but the detailed thread he started in 2014 is still instructive: https://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33959 If nothing else, h...

I think melos aren't sensitive to water but to mealies undoubtedly. Have you treated them by water only? Yes. only water. I didn't use that much. When I disgarded the plant I broke it open to inspect and it was pretty rotten on the inside. I think now that it was perhaps already not in good health....

I was away for a month late in the year. When I returned the cactus was affected with mealies . I picked off as many as possible. The mealies in hard to get areas I lightly zapped off the cactus with water from water bottle. A couple weeks later the cactus started rotting at the bottom. I know Melo...

I was away for a month late in the year. When I returned the cactus was affected with mealies . I picked off as many as possible. The mealies in hard to get areas I lightly zapped off the cactus with water from water bottle. A couple weeks later the cactus started rotting at the bottom. I know Meloc...

Thanks - leland. Perhaps where you are located melos flower / fruit all year. It might be important with how close you are to the equator. The matanzanus is native to Cuba. I would be curious if flowering / fruit occurs all year compared to the northern hemisphere where it's mainly summer.

Hi Nino- Yes it's a matanzanus. Thanks for the info. Good to know the odd winter-produced fruit isn't uncommon. kind regards.

I'm seeking opinions about my Melocactus. I have never had a Melocactus produce a fruit in the winter. Normally a Melocactus produces fruits in the summer. Is this not a good thing ? Does this mean the cactus is happy ? Is this detrimental to the cactus ? Normally cactus are dormant in the winter. I...

It might not be growing that much due to where you are ?

I concur with zpeckler. Looks like sunburn and over watering.