Wobble in top heavy plants

[Andrew Farrell]

Hi all,
I just potted up a pretty good sized baby pachycereus pringlei and I covered it with my soil mixture only up to where it was originally in soil. Because it's top heavy and grow in a slight curve it wobbles a little in the soil. Is this wobbling a problem? I'm sure it will become more stable when it grows some nice roots, but do I have to worry about the top part breaking off from the bottom or anything? This is my first time planting such a large cactus.

[cactushobbyman]

I would have lowered the current soil level about 2 inches in the pot. Then fill up to the original soil level and the extra 2 inches I would back fill in with gravel. This would give weight and help hold the plant in place. You may have to have a deeper pot. I do this a lot and the gravel hasn't cause any rot with the contact of the stem that has never had soil on it.

[Andrew Farrell]

I would have lowered the current soil level about 2 inches in the pot. Then fill up to the original soil level and the extra 2 inches I would back fill in with gravel. This would give weight and help hold the plant in place. You may have to have a deeper pot. I do this a lot and the gravel hasn't cause any rot with the contact of the stem that has never had soil on it.

I may have misspoke earlier, it's not that the base is wobbling in the soil, the top just wobbles since it's heavy. Does that change anything? The gravel does sound like a good idea.

[ElieEstephane]

If the cactus is wobbling in itslef there might be something wrong. It should be very firm.
If it's not firm maybe a bit thirsty.
In a way, you can stake it. That's the easiest solution

[Marzhattan]

Hey! Saw your post on columnars on reddit!

[Andrew Farrell]

Hey! Saw your post on columnars on reddit!

What a coincidence, nice to see the community is elsewhere as well.

[sundanz]

I have several that are topheavy as well. I usually stake them with bamboo skewers.