Fairy Castle Cactus - Acanthocereus Tetragonus - How Firm Should it Be?

[pone]

I purchased a Fairy Castle Cactus - Acanthocereus Tetragonus - by mail order. It feels "squishy" but the roots show no evidence of root rot. It does look water-starved and the roots are dried up. How firm should this species normally be? What would be possible causes for softness on the spines and columns, other than root rot?

[anttisepp]

Normally it's as firm as other cerei. By the way it's right name isn't "acantho..." but Cereus peruvianus (=uruguayanus = hildmannianus) cv "Fairy Castle" Unusual name was a fool mistake or commercial trick (to hide very usual cactus(?) ). I've seen many palnts grown from one stronger single stem and all are 100% peruvianus.
PS plant in normal cactus soil, spray the packet inside some water and put it on your cactus for a week, then (only then!) bvegin to water.