Newbie Query: Are My Cacti Just Fine?

[Adobo86]

Hi All,

I have few cacti that I just got last 30th of May from the old lady where I got all my cacti from. Winter in Melbourne just started 1st of June and the temperature ranges between 4°c - 14°c lately. I have all my cacti in my room ever since I got them and I make sure that I always put each one of them beside my window so they can have a bit of sunlight every morning but just this afternoon, while I was looking at them, I noticed that some of getting these darker shades of green, almost black-like, which I’m not sure whether it’s a normal occurrence in cacti during winter dormancy or maybe it’s something else. Btw, I tried touching those parts which shows around the areas near the areoles and it doesn’t seem that it’s mushy or soft. The Gymnocalycium’s pups even have those blackish discolouration in the tips near the areoles as well. One of them, the Parodia Magnifica, seems shriveled too. I didn’t water any of these three since I got them few days back.

I hope anyone can help me sort this thing out and I really hope that it’s not serious or something that will make my cacti sick or be at risk of dying.

Thank you in advance.

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[anttisepp]

Hello, you have very healthy cacti (Gymnocalycium damsii, Mammillaria elongata and Eriocactus magnificus), there's nothing to worry about.
Keep them all in a direct sunlight, don't move them inside your room, low night temps + dry in rest period are very OK.

[Adobo86]

Hello, you have very healthy cacti (Gymnocalycium damsii, Mammillaria elongata and Eriocactus magnificus), there's nothing to worry about.
Keep them all in a direct sunlight, don't move them inside your room, low night temps + dry in rest period are very OK.

Hi Anttisepp!

I’m glad that you didn’t only gave me an insight about what’s happening with my cacti but also helped me in giving (confirming IDs) for the cacti that I posted.

We only have really short daylights at the moment because winter just started and I’m trying my best to let them get as much sunshine as they can get. Unfortunately I’m in a shared house and my room’s window is facing north east. All of them are in my room coz it’s the only safe place that I could place them in (and I started collecting Cacti wanting to see them first thing in the morning).

I hope even I have all these unfortunate circumstances, I could still grow them well. I’m trying to be as careful as I can be in watering them. I guess I won’t water them for like few weeks during this period.

They’re just beside my bed on their own separate bench.

Btw, if you could check out my first post the other day regarding Cacti ID query, I would be very happy if you could help.

Appreciate the prompt reply.

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[anttisepp]

Hello, you have very nice plants. I am very sorry but cacti will not grow there. You have to keep them on the window all year round or, better on balcony or in the garden/yard, the best place is certainly greenhouse but in your climate it's not obligatory. Cacti need winter rest in cold season so you have to stop watering them till oct-nov (sprin in Oz ). If you'll grow them outdoors there's only need in protection from cold rain in winter. Most of them feel happily if winter temps not fall under 0.

[Adobo86]

Hello, you have very nice plants. I am very sorry but cacti will not grow there. You have to keep them on the window all year round or, better on balcony or in the garden/yard, the best place is certainly greenhouse but in your climate it's not obligatory. Cacti need winter rest in cold season so you have to stop watering them till oct-nov (sprin in Oz ). If you'll grow them outdoors there's only need in protection from cold rain in winter. Most of them feel happily if winter temps not fall under 0.

Got that, Anttissepp... For now since it’s winter time maybe I’d keep them here first and then figure out what I’ll do when spring time comes. I would normally put them at the window from 8am morning until evening then place them back on the bench in the evening and it’s become a daily routine since I got them.

If I actually found a way to reconfigure my room area and be able to permanently place them beside the window, will it be better? I started opening the window for better air circulation.

Noted on the watering, so its better to completely stop watering them until winter ends, right?

Here’s how my room window looks like.

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[anttisepp]

Oh now. Sorry it' not a good solution at all. Please save your plants, hope you're not a "florist" neither "designer".
Have you ever read some literature about cacti? I'd recommend to read about culture indoors, light, water, temp. needings etc.
Sorry... And good luck.

[Adobo86]

Oh now. Sorry it' not a good solution at all. Please save your plants, hope you're not a "florist" neither "designer".
Have you ever read some literature about cacti? I'd recommend to read about culture indoors, light, water, temp. needings etc.
Sorry... And good luck.

I’ll try my best to save them and get a better solution for my concern. I’m not any of those. I’m still a student, studying culinary arts. Hehe...

I’ll be reading write ups regarding taking care of cacti so I can be a better guardian for all these awesome living things.

I hope you can help me to classify them on my other post.

Again, thank you very much, Anttisepp.

[Sun_Love]

I'm a newbie at this too but I will give you my thoughts anyways First... beautiful cacti and I love the setup (in the stylish sense). Like already mentioned I don't think it will work though with regards to light. If it were me, I'd invest in some sort of hanging lighting that hangs over the entire cacti area. Or switch them closest to the window and your bed to the other side I still think they would need more light though..

[Adobo86]

I'm a newbie at this too but I will give you my thoughts anyways First... beautiful cacti and I love the setup (in the stylish sense). Like already mentioned I don't think it will work though with regards to light. If it were me, I'd invest in some sort of hanging lighting that hangs over the entire cacti area. Or switch them closest to the window and your bed to the other side I still think they would need more light though..

Hi, Sun Love!

I just read your message and actually yesterday morning I thought of rearranging my space and dedicated the whole stretch of window space for my spiked friends. Now I don’t need to put them near the window every now and then coz they are placed there permanently already. Now I always open my window and eventhough it’s really cold now, I feel like proper ventilation will be better for them. I am still reading up articles for growing cacti indoors and really hoping that for the set-up I have for them right now, at least they’d be happy. Surely it won’t be the best option but for now, since I don’t really have the space for them outside (as I’m living in a shared space), but trying my best to make it work.

Btw, that’s not a grow light. It’s just my bed side light that I use to sleep but instead of putting it at the other side of my bed, I put it towards my plants (coz I want to look at them before sleeping. Hehe...)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about my concern.

Have a great day!

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[Diana]

Hello and welcome! Your plants look stunning! And it is lovely you keep them so near to your bed, just like pets and best friends.
I am also a newbie and have had my succulents and cacti for only 1 year, but I would still like to give you some advice.
I think the plants on the top floor will be doing just fine, but I would be worried about the ones that are on the down shelf. I think they will lack sunlight. I think you should find them a better spot. Maybe you can buy a higher shelf or a plant rack that you would put on that night table? Good luck!

[mikethecactusguy]

cactus are great plants for sleeping with. unlike tropical plants, they produce oxygen at night.