LOOK at the dry and crumbly sore.

[JeffWhiteDevil]

Please take a look at this nasty looking brown, dry and somewhat crumbly sore on the base of one of my smaller cacti. The sore is larger than a dime but smaller than a nickel. It’s been there for about 3 years and doesn’t appear to be getting much if any worse than when I first spotted it. The plant is growing and otherwise looks healthy.

Has anyone else had a plant develop something like this, or know what it might be????


Thanks for looking.

[Peterthecactusguy]

rot?

[Steve Johnson]

rot?

After 3 years I shouldn't think so, although sure looks like it. Wow, this is weird -- Jeff I hope you can find out what's going on. As for me, I'm stumped.

[SnowFella]

Healed rot?
I've got a cristate something that started turning a dealy shade of black down the base earlier this year and lost quite a bit of flesh before it somehow magicly healed itself and resumed normal growth.

[Steve Johnson]

Healed rot?
I've got a cristate something that started turning a dealy shade of black down the base earlier this year and lost quite a bit of flesh before it somehow magicly healed itself and resumed normal growth.

If that's the case, it's a new one for me. I'd normally assume rot is a death sentence for cacti, but maybe not. (Probably haven't been around long enough to see this kind of thing before.)

[CactusFanDan]

I've had that with some very old cacti that my Grandpa gave to me, and I think it's either dry rot, or it's a kind of necrosis. Anyway, as long as you brush out any loose material inside the wound and keep it dry, then it doesn't spread or anything, just acts like a typical healed wound.

[JeffWhiteDevil]

I would like to thank everyone who replied, i appreciate it. I sure thought that cactus was a goner when I first spotted the nasty spot and just set it aside away from the other plants and basically forgot about it for a very long time. I'm sure glad the plant started growing again..probably helps that I started watering it with more than an eye dropper full!

[Peterthecactusguy]

it depends. Some saguaros can beat the necrosis infection that they get. It acts like a tree and cordons off the infection site, which dies.. so you will see a saguaro with an area of dead tissue. It might be something like that.. I dont know tho...
I would say if it is still growing it will be fine... might have a scar but..