Strange Non-Rot Cavity in Mamm. laui v. subducta

[hoteidoc]

Discovered this this splendid 72f day on Spring Equinox in upstate NY I had just given this plant it's 1st good H20ing yesterday. It's been flowering since Thanksgiving. It was in the "cold" room (42 - 50f) with no water since before Christmas. Have given a couple of light H20ings since Mar 1 since room has been 60 - 75f.
Pic 1 - View of plant when walk in door

Mamm. laui v. subducta "normal"

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Noticed a depression spination on the most hidden spot - the slight underside on main orig. stem. Looked closer & I was looking in a cavern! But it was weird because no goo, no black, no smell....Got out scalpel blade & alcohol & gingerly sliced around edges. Here's first entry "port".

Mm-subducta-Sx_03202012_1049_3.JPG (249.38 KiB) Viewed 333 times

Next are views (need laprascope ) into cavity. It was a sl. calloused over, but went down into stem. It appears to have self-healed. I'm sure it'll be susceptible, but for all appearences, it's a happy camper! Thought about dusting with sulphur power, but figured I'd end up getting toxic S levels! We'll see...
[attachment=1]Mm-subducta-Sx_03202012_1050_4.JPG[/attachment
After I saw the severe sunburn heal/recovery (forget who, sorry, but from AZ) that happened a year ago. Again the cacti immune system astounds me!
Endless Life lessons from these creatures!
Peter]

[Tony]

I have bought two other species of mammillarias that looked normal outside but were hollow on the inside.
One, a single headed M. rhodantha, eventually died and the other, Mammillaria marcosii, the hollow main head is gone but the offsets still live on.
very strange.

[hoteidoc]

Thanks, Tony. I was sure it had been seen, but recently had lost a M. zeilmannia that had been going gang busters, lots of pups & then it started sagging...Was very happy to see what I saw, not what I was expecting. Now it's got Character!

[Melt In The Sun]

It almost looks like something burrowed into it...there's probably a monster hibernating in there!

[DustBunny]

I lost several mamms to something similar. In my case I found small dark beetles in the cavities and while I am not 100% certain, I highly suspect they were the ones that excavated the holes. I have not found these on any other types of cacti or succulent I grow just the mamms.

[hoteidoc]

I don't know what could have burrowed in -- totally indoor plant & only bugs I see in the house are flies & occas. wasp!. But after the physical "exorcism", I did "smudge" it to drive any bad spirits out! Plant hasn't missed a beat, still blossoming. As a veterinarian, it's fun to observe the substantial self-healing these plants have! No Plant Dr. house calls in the desert or 1/2 way up the side of the Andes!
Peter

[promethean_spark]

Never know, 1000 baby scorpions might come pouring out of there!

J/K - that's a common urban legend

[hoteidoc]

That's what I have my "fierce" guard cats for! It looks like it had the "bends", because continues to be some internal splitting! But it just keeps on growing & flowering Some issues going on that make me almost feel like crawling in & chilling for awhile After all, the plant is in my meditation room. If there were baby scorpions crawling out -- at least I'd probably have grusonii's in the front yard!
Peter