Espostoa rot

[cactushobbyman]

I have several of these in my outside garden and with the heavy soil conditions, rot does take its toll. I'm very tempted to dig the rest up and move them to the greenhouse.

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I will let it dry for several weeks and repot it, its new home will be in the greenhouse.

[adetheproducer]

I would be tempted to cut a little more off that, it still looks worringly brown. Cut it back untill is nice and green.

[hoteidoc]

I've lost 3 or 4 good-sized (Lowe's) seedlings on the front porch - even with clay pots. Rescued one from rot as a cutting, then lost that the next year. I love them, but (for me, in pots) they've been tough. Same with Oreocereus - trolli & celsianus! Have a bunch of 1 1/2" seedling tho -- we'll see if we can get any of them to 6"

[cactushobbyman]

I would be tempted to cut a little more off that, it still looks worringly brown. Cut it back untill is nice and green.

I saw that. I think I'll let it be and see how it dries. The greenhouse gets over 100 degrees everyday, so if it starts to look bad, I'll cut more off.

[greenknight]

You should build a raised bed for your cacti, for better drainage.

[cactushobbyman]

You should build a raised bed for your cacti, for better drainage.

I have thought about that, but the outside garden is so large and spread out, cost would be overwhelming. I have two others next to the one that rotted and they are doing fine. Who knows, maybe it just wanted to be moved into the greenhouse.

[greenknight]

Doesn't have to be fancy, just a simple mound. Order a load of fine gravel or builder's sand - whatever they've got that looks like it would work good - and have it dumped in a pile. Spread a thin layer of compost over it, scratch it in with a rake, and plant cacti in it. Bet they'd do great.

[CarefreeHWY]

I posted a similar problem with mine, Wondering if I'll have to end up cutting mine as well or maybe it will come back? I don't know too much about cutting as I've never done it before

[CactusFanDan]

I posted a similar problem with mine, Wondering if I'll have to end up cutting mine as well or maybe it will come back? I don't know too much about cutting as I've never done it before

It's like chopping a cucumber, except spikier.

For some reason young Espostoas seem to be quite rot prone and I have no idea why.

[adetheproducer]

Ditto, except mine was a espostoopsis. I bought 4 in a pot together all in wet soggy peat clogging the roots. I was a bit hesitant with the first root cleaning, worried about damaging the fine roots, I'm more used to thick tap roots like lophs. Too much peat left on and it stayed soggy after its first drop when we had some sun, it was growing so I thought a light spray would be ok. I was clearly wrong. I gave the roots a proper clean a few weeks later when putting in a permanent pot but it was too late and one rotted completely. There is one that has started to go soft but the biggest two seem fine.

[cactushobbyman]

I posted a similar problem with mine, Wondering if I'll have to end up cutting mine as well or maybe it will come back? I don't know too much about cutting as I've never done it before

You can make small cuts until you see all green. Then let it dry for several weeks or months, and re-pot. I'm thinking 3 weeks for me, we are starting spring early here.