Euphorbia ammok variegat rotting

[Anskuhh]

Hi everyone,

I purchased this euphorbia a few weeks ago at a local nursery. One of the stems wasn’t in great shape but I thought it would be ok. Now after a few days being away from home I noticed it has turned black (used to be white). can anyone help me figure out hot to fix this rot? I noticed it has been planted at a different time due to difference in soil colour.. By cutting the rotting piece and maybe separating it from the other ones? I don’t want to lose it also one of the photos of off the healthier one that I now notices has a brown and white spots also, photos attached

[Steve Johnson]

This is a succulent, not a cactus. I grow only desert cacti, but the people here on the Succulent Growing Help forum should be able to help you.

[Anskuhh]

Thank you. I’m desperate for help

[Steve Johnson]

Thank you. I’m desperate for help

There may be one way I can help. Looking at your photos, it appears that you're trying to grow your Euphorbia in soil. Without good drainage, the soil suffocates the roots, so I recommend that you do the following:

• Unpot the plant and examine the roots. If they look healthy, clean off the soil as thoroughly as possible, then let them dry out before repotting.

• Mix some sort of mineral gravel into the soil for better drainage. Horticultural pumice is great, although if you can't find it, crushed granite poultry grit and calcined clay cat litter are good options. My default recommendation for cacti is a 50/50 mineral-to-soil mix, although I don't know if succulents need that much mineral in the mix.

• Repot the plant in fresh, dry mix, let it settle in for a week or two, then give it a good deep watering. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the watering frequency should be, so hopefully one of the succulent people here can guide you further.

If the roots are rotten, I think the only thing you can do is cut whatever healthy stems you have and root them. Be aware of the fact that Euphorbias contain natural latex which is toxic, so use gloves when you cut, and do not let the latex sap get onto your skin or in your eyes.

By the way, I also recommend the following:

http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtop ... 11&t=43821

Best of luck!

[Anskuhh]

Thank you! This is how I received the succulent from the nursery so I assumed it’s good.. I have cactus mix and perlite at home, would mixing those two work? I am very upset that this is already possibly rotting after having it for two weeks

[Steve Johnson]

Thank you! This is how I received the succulent from the nursery so I assumed it’s good.. I have cactus mix and perlite at home, would mixing those two work? I am very upset that this is already possibly rotting after having it for two weeks

Not the preferred choice, but Perlite is acceptable, and many growers do well with it. However, it does float when the mix is watered, and the floaty stuff gets all over the base of the plant. A good layer of gravel top dressing will take care of that problem, and your cactus mix should be better than the potting soil I saw in your photos.