In April of 2024 I purchased what I believe is a Prickly Pear Cactus from a thrift store. Being a successful backyard gardener and budding plant enthusiast I thought I should save this cactus from the dark warehouse-like corner in which it sat.
I placed it as I bought it in its red pot (pictured) on my desk in front of the double windows that face south (these windows are in the corner and have 2 other windows on the east wall, creating a nice space of natural light). It came wrapped with some thin rope around it and dowel rods poked down in the soil. I left it in this state for a good handful of months until it started to look droopy and the browning of the skin seemed to get worse.
At this point I repotted the cactus into a larger green glazed ceramic pot. In preparation of this post and reading the wiki, I realize the glazed pot was perhaps a poor choice but it does at least have good drainage in the bottom of the pot. I used miracle grow soil labeled for cactus use, gave it a good “watering in” like it was a tomato plant and placed it back in the windows.
In general since the repotting about a year ago, this cactus has been ignored. I may have dumped 1/4 cup of water once in that period of time. However, over the last year the browning has gotten much more significant and covers a large portion of the cactus and the cactus has extreme drooping, not standing upright in its original position at all.
About 4 days ago I placed it outside in my greenhouse (pictured) which now that Spring approaches stays anywhere from 50F at night and up to 130F at the peak of the day. The greenhouse is not currently humid and is dry inside. I did give it a large drenching drink when I first placed the cactus in the greenhouse about 3 days ago, as I had read at some point to water a cactus like it was in a deluge and at this point it has probably been a good year since that last 1/4 cup of water.
From here I have no idea what I would google to save this cactus to try and describe its current state and could use some insight and wisdom. I want to feel confident in doing the right thing and not guessing as I would love to see this beauty brought back to its glory.
Thank you!
by No-Show-3974
2 Comments
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The brown is corking and is completely normal the flopping over us because its too topheavy and likely severely underwatered.