Recently moved, these cactus are in the front yard and they look terrible. Not sure about previous care or watering, they get full sunlight and are in rocky soil . What’s wrong with them and is it fixable?
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Special_Shelter_1415
Perhaps is a fall season or almost winter?
MySomberSoul
Sad babies. I have quite a few of these in my yard. Check to see if there are any cactus aphids on them. Also I would change out those rocks for small pebble rocks. The big ones absorb the heat and can burn them. I learned that here and can see this issue on my own. Where are you located? I’m in Phoenix.
purgoatory
OP I believe your cactus is infected with bugs. Based on you saying it’s been like this all summer, and the massive amount of white stuff all over the plants I suspect bugs. It’s hard to say what kind since I can’t see that close up in these pictures, but this plant isn’t healthy because of bugs. Could be multiple kinds of insects, mealies and scale are the first that come to mind. But again can’t say for sure without seeing it closer. Best of luck OP, it’s awesome you care for this plant so much to ask for help, I feel like not many people love cactus as much as other plants.
i_illustrate_stuff
Are you in Phoenix az? I feel like a lot of prickly pears look like that here, stressed out from the heat but hanging in there, growing back a bit when the weather cools off and with rare(er) rainy summers. Yours also look like they have cochineal insects (the white fluffy stuff), which will add to their stress but *usually* aren’t deadly. Probably contributing to making your pricklies uglier though.
But like another comment said, those rocks are likely stressing the cacti out even more, they trap a lot of heat and can even heat up the cactus’s roots. Pulling them away from the base by a few feet would help. If the space allows for it adding some big heat loving shrubs or a small desert tree to help shade them a bit might help them look a bit happier!
Deanne-Dennis
Hard to tell from the distant photo could be Wooly Aphids, Cottony Cushion Scale or Mealybugs.
A severe case too.
Pyrethrum is really good for all 3.
I can’t give you a brand as they differ in every country.
But ask at your local Nursery or Hardware store for Pyrethrum.
arshandya
I’m not familiar with this species but they kinda look skinny, do they get enough nutrients? Maybe add some fertilizer might help?
7 Comments
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Perhaps is a fall season or almost winter?
Sad babies. I have quite a few of these in my yard. Check to see if there are any cactus aphids on them. Also I would change out those rocks for small pebble rocks. The big ones absorb the heat and can burn them. I learned that here and can see this issue on my own. Where are you located? I’m in Phoenix.
OP I believe your cactus is infected with bugs. Based on you saying it’s been like this all summer, and the massive amount of white stuff all over the plants I suspect bugs. It’s hard to say what kind since I can’t see that close up in these pictures, but this plant isn’t healthy because of bugs. Could be multiple kinds of insects, mealies and scale are the first that come to mind. But again can’t say for sure without seeing it closer. Best of luck OP, it’s awesome you care for this plant so much to ask for help, I feel like not many people love cactus as much as other plants.
Are you in Phoenix az? I feel like a lot of prickly pears look like that here, stressed out from the heat but hanging in there, growing back a bit when the weather cools off and with rare(er) rainy summers. Yours also look like they have cochineal insects (the white fluffy stuff), which will add to their stress but *usually* aren’t deadly. Probably contributing to making your pricklies uglier though.
But like another comment said, those rocks are likely stressing the cacti out even more, they trap a lot of heat and can even heat up the cactus’s roots. Pulling them away from the base by a few feet would help. If the space allows for it adding some big heat loving shrubs or a small desert tree to help shade them a bit might help them look a bit happier!
Hard to tell from the distant photo could be Wooly Aphids, Cottony Cushion Scale or Mealybugs.
A severe case too.
Pyrethrum is really good for all 3.
I can’t give you a brand as they differ in every country.
But ask at your local Nursery or Hardware store for Pyrethrum.
I’m not familiar with this species but they kinda look skinny, do they get enough nutrients? Maybe add some fertilizer might help?