Argh! QUICK! Cactus EMERGENCY!! Stat.

[allhailtheaubergine]

WHY is my beautiful, 2 foot tall, upstanding, impressive cactus lying down?

Yesterday he was standing up straight and proud.

Today he appears to be having a nap.

Too much water or not enough?

I haven't changed anything. I would have thought not enough water (logically, I mean, so not enough to keep it upright) but the earth feels slightly damp.

HELP.

Maybe too much water and it is starting to rot? Or has someone accidentally knocked it/footballed it etc?

Thank you THANK you for replying.

I have been giving it the silent treatment since posting. I shall neglect it yet further for a couple of days and see what happens.

If it is rotting I don't think it is likely to recover, I'm afraid

If it looks manky at the bottom, but ok at the top, cut off the top just above the manky bit and leave the cut to dry up for a week or so, then plant it about an inch deep in fairly dry soil. It will usually grow back fine.

Oh, I will do that and see how it goes. Thank you.

i have no idea but i loled at 'cactus emergency'! thankyou :)

It's not a lolling matter Darn. This cactus's LIFE is in the balance. Anyway, I have just chopped its head off about an inch into the healthy part and stuck it in some sandy soil. Fingers crossed everyone.

allhail, weren't you supposed to leave the cut to dry for a week before planting it again??

You really need to let the cut dry or the bottom of that bit will go manky too. Pop it back out of the soil and just leave it next to the pot to dry.

This is why all my plants die, y'see? I didn't let it dry out and now it's just a sad bit of stalk in a pot.

Also because I am taking the advice you are giving me for my huge and drooping cactus, and applying it to my dying alien succulent.

I'm too impatient for gardening.

Shall I hoik the alien stalk out of the pot then?

I could put photos on my profile if it would help?

Please hoick the alien stalk out of the soil and let it dry out. The cut has to callus over before it goes in the soil, then the cactus will be ready to grow new roots from the healed cut surface. Give it a week to dry. We can save it have hope!

Oh dear.

I took the stalk out of the pot and put it on a sill to callus. My cleaner came yesterday afternoon and threw it away.

The end.

:(

Oh well, at least you'll know what to do if it happens again to you or a friend. I feel sad for the cactus though