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I have had this cactus for about 5 (or more) years, and have been treating it pretty shamefully due to me only recently researching how to garden and unfortunately being one of those who didn't care too much before. I want to keep it alive, as it was originally a tiny cutting from one of my grandmothers cactus'.

Cactus

She had potted it in a tiny pot with a lot of drainage stones at the bottom, which was perfect for the baby but I am aware it needs repotting now. Water doesn't seem to stay in the soil at all now, just drains straight through. Was planning to put into a pot 2-3x the size with fresh potting soil (I assume it can handle the same soil as my herbs do?). That's easy enough. I'll keep it inside at a window as that's where it's been it's whole life.

Cactus close up

The problem is that i'm worried that this white fluff that i've always dismissed as part of the plant is mealy bugs. In the above picture you can also see white discolouring around the middle of the plant. I don't know what kind of cactus I have, unfortunately, but my grandmothers ballooned out into a ball shape and mine never has even after 5 years. I've put this down to mistreatment (it was left on a kitchen shelf in my parents house for 3 years with sporadic watering) but apparently mealy bugs cause stunted growth too. It keeps growing up, not out. Is it just because it was originally an offcut 'stem' so it's never going to become a ball? If it is mealy bugs, is this a huge infestation that is going to be really difficult to deal with?

Thank you for any advice! If anybody might know what kind of cactus this is so that I can research online for how to look after them, that would be really great too. :)

Charis
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    It sort of looks like it has been light deprived in the way it is stretching for the sun. – Rhizoqueer May 30 '17 at 02:22
  • @Rhizoqueer yeah I definitely agree. It's gone a bit mad stretching height wise since I bought it with me from my parents house and actually sat it in a sunny window. – Charis May 30 '17 at 11:39

2 Answers2

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The white tufts around the cactus's needles are typical, especially because you said its been there for over 5 years. Mealy bugs congragate usually groups and don't evenly spaced on a plant's surface. The pot is too dried out and has a hard time retaining water. I use a trick very sparingly to rehydrate soil, especially succulents and cactus.

Take a bowl that is the height the pot and put the plant in the bowl. Fill the bowl to the top slowly with water. Let it sit for 30 minutes in the water, then remove the cactus and let it drain. The soil will be fully hydrated and will accept water more readily. Don't do this more than once or twice a year with cactus.

Also, buy a deep saucer and water it from the bottom that will be better for the succulent. Fill the sauces and pour out any water that is still in the saucer 15 minutes later.

The shape of your cactus is due to inconsistent watering. If you are consistent, it might fill out over the next year or two. Also, in the winter only water once a month for Oct through March assuming a Northern Hemisphere.

CloneZero
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  • Thank you! I appreciate the detailed answer. I think it makes sense that the plant is looking odd due to inconsistently watering it, and am very glad to hear it's most likely not mealy bugs. I have a little spare potting soil from some other things I was doing, so I may just re-pot the cactus into a slightly larger pot with more fresh soil, I assume that would be as good for it as rehydrating the old soil (or I could perhaps do both)? I'll just keep a much better eye on it the next couple years. Thanks for the tip about winter watering. – Charis May 30 '17 at 11:37
  • A slightly larger pot would do it some good if you like buy a clay pot with a deep saucer to repot it in. It will be happier. When you repot it, use thick gloves and make a sling of newspaper to hold it in so you don't rip up your hands, see https://laidbackgardener.wordpress.com/tag/newspaper-to-repot-cactus/ for advice. – CloneZero Jun 02 '17 at 11:40
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I know this is vveerrryyy late and this is mostly for anyone who finds this by looking up if their plant has mealybugs, cacti can collect fuzz so don’t be too worried Espinoza everything else is just fine! Also with reporting, a terra cotta would be best. Anything other than that is good for succulents that need more water than others. Also the soil, be careful and use a well draining soil! Miracle grow makes a special cacti soil now a days. Or you can make your own!

Matthew Tekulve
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