hi, it's been about 4 months since i got this one. it's just been shrinking. i stopped watering it for a month now except for one very light watering in its current pot (pic 2), basically only top soil. i moved from an oversized pot into gritty soil 2 weeks ago. the outermost leaves are becoming squishy with no signs of rot (reabsorption?). can i do anything or should i leave it and pray? thanks.
by Sad-Description-3197
2 Comments
I would soak it in water overnight, like in a shallow dish. Bottom water it and it will drink. The plant is dry if the leaves are squishy and wrinkled
Light waterings are bogus. I have seen huge Yucca plants in New Mexico in the desert in a foot of standing water during monsoon season, after going 6-8 months with zero precipitation. After letting it dry out for a month, if it was really dry, you should have drenched it, hopefully with filtered or not hard water, as when they are bone dry, some soil will actually shed water (hard water usually) under your cactus, leaving the roots dry as dust. Also I notice you didn’t mention indoors vs outdoors, Washington State or Arizona (humidity), and some other stuff, but if that plant gets sufficient light, it should not shrink. In fact, I once saw a shrinking cactus, some old friend had overwatered it, and it was shrinking due to its roots being all rotten. I am guessing a light issue. Or excessive humidity, such that it never really dries out; if that’s the case try putting it outside for the summer.