Questions about my cactus, it might be sick?

phearis · Post by **phearis** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 8:02 am

This is my cactus, I don't know what kind it is, It was given to me when it was 2" tall about 7 years ago. If you know what kind it is, I'd love to know.

Anyway, two things:
I just noticed this brown spot at the base of my cactus. It's not squishy, so I don't think it's rot. It's in fact, rather hard and leathery. And it seems to be cracking in the middle. Is this normal?

Also, my cactus seems to have moved over the last 6 months, from the center of the pot to the edge. Why would it do that? And I didn't know cactus could move.

extinctearth · Post by **extinctearth** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:25 am

Liquefaction of the soil from watering might have caused the cactus to move around. If it is not squishy than it might just be callusing.

TimN · Post by **TimN** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:24 pm

Is it heading for the door?

phearis · Post by **phearis** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:53 am

Is callusing bad? Is it going to hurt the cactus?

Lol, not for the door, in fact, it's right up against the wall now.

extinctearth wrote:Liquefaction of the soil from watering might have caused the cactus to move around. If it is not squishy than it might just be callusing.

luddhus · Post by **luddhus** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 9:38 am

phearis wrote:Is callusing bad? Is it going to hurt the cactus?

No.

Scottyzx12 · Post by **Scottyzx12** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:46 am

Looks to me to be corking. I havent seen corking of this spicies but this happens on a fair amount of columnar cacti. Corking is the natural callusing of the base of the stem to support it as it grows taller, so if it is corking you have no reason to worry.

Post by **daiv** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:08 am

Saw this in the ID thread. I don't see anything alarming in terms of health. It would probably prefer stronger light and a more cactus-friendtly mix. That soil looks like the stuff that is sold as "cactus soil" in the stores, which is not very good for cactus at all.

The movement is quite odd and of course cactus don't move. I would not have thought of the watering thing being the issue, but that sounds feasable. My first thought was possible pranksters that you might have living with you - roomate, wife, little brother, etc.

phearis · Post by **phearis** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:54 am

Nope, I live by myself and I doubt my cat moved it. Besides, it happened gradually over about 6 months and I only water about once a month. So liquefaction of the soil seems remote. I dunno.

What soil would you recommend? And where can I get it? This is that Miracle-Gro "Cactus Soil".

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:25 pm

The Miracle-Gro cactus soil has worked for me when I mixed it 50/50 with perlite, or NAPA Oil Dry. But it needs the added stuff.

When did you last repot the plant? Could the roots be fighting for room and causing the "creepage"?

luddhus · Post by **luddhus** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 3:55 pm

If the soil is loose and soft the central root may have bent under the weight, making it look as if it has moved.

madadi · Post by **madadi** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:59 am

imagine the root is pushing up against the bottom of the pot, its bent and its pushing up the entire cactus out of the pot and shifting it to one side. it would explain why you see the brown at the botom also. it looks like its part of the root to me because the cactus is also being pushed upwards. fear not, your cactus is not running anywhere any time soon. mistery solved lol