I killed a cactus

mek · May 02, 2008 9:21 am

I had this small, round cactus plant on my cupboard, and Iooked at it this morning, the poor thing has sagged to one side and is completely soft to touch. :shock:

I have no idea what I did wrong :?:

. Not enough water, too much water, not enough light? Any ideas? Thanks.

Kryten · May 02, 2008 10:07 am

I did exactly the same thing a few years ago Mek so you're not alone

The issue with mine was that although they don't need much water I forgot to water it :oops:

When my house is finished I'm buying artificial plants as I tend to kill any pot plant that comes through my door :cry:

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 11:24 am

Do you know what sort of plant it was and was it a cacti.....virtually all cacti are succulents, but many succulents are not cacti.

Cacti will live for long periods without water whereas some succulents like a little bit of water. My aloe vera (succulent) is quite happy in the shade but will cook in the sun.

Dead cactus are hard and they loose their gloss, so sounds like yours is not dead.

Cactus in to warm a spot (generally occuring outside or say under a heating vent) will "cook" you'll get brown or white patches were the green pigment (chlorphyll is lost).

Cactus in too cool a spot (perpetual shade, on top of a cupboard in a cool spot) can go soft and start rotting.

If you want to save the cactus try putting in a more temperature neutral area (not to hot or cold) and it may recover. If you put it into too hot an area you might stress the plant

Also I find that they need to be turned around occasionally if kept indoors...like a good snag.....as they only get sunlight from one window.

Good luck

royalblue · May 02, 2008 11:31 am

Sounds like its CACTUS!

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 11:40 am

royalblue

Sounds like its CACTUS!

True but cactus can be expensive and can live for a long time (like wives :wink:

) and might be worth saving....

vanderlay · May 02, 2008 11:41 am

to_do_list

royalblue

Sounds like its CACTUS!

can live for a long time (like wives :wink:

) and might be worth saving....

not like wives.... :?:

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 11:50 am

vanderlay

to_do_list

royalblue

Sounds like its CACTUS!

can live for a long time (like wives :wink:

) and might be worth saving....

not like wives.... :?:

Forgot to tell you about the sect I just joined..... :shock:

DeeElle · May 02, 2008 11:55 am

to_do_list

royalblue

Sounds like its CACTUS!

True but cactus can be expensive and can live for a long time (like wives :wink:

) and might be worth saving....

Yes we like it juuuust right ... not too hot or cold. And you need us to fill all those shoes :wink:

.

mek · May 02, 2008 12:12 pm

It's definitely dead. I gave it a bit of a push and it collapsed and inside there's lots of slimy liquid :shock:

. Too much water? The soil was completely dry though.

Kryten · May 02, 2008 12:57 pm

This is exactly the same as what happened to mine from lack of water. It flopped over and had the slimy liquid as well. I tried to save it, but the poor thing was definitely dead :oops:

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 1:13 pm

royalblue

Sounds like its CACTUS!

I think he was right...was it in a cool spot....?

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 1:15 pm

Came across this in a Google search.....

Cacti have a cell structure designed to store water. When all the stored water in the cells is gone, the cactus collapses.

Guess they're not indestructible......

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 1:17 pm

Although this link http://www.cactusmuseum.com/diseases.asp says it's rot from to much water....!!!!....gotta love gardening....

Kryten · May 02, 2008 1:22 pm

Geez, with conflicting info like that it's no wonder I kill every plant I touch :cry:

Michelle · May 02, 2008 1:25 pm

Too much water mek!