How to repot this bruiser of a cactus so it doesn't lean

[Aridane]

I have posted before about this bruiser of a cactus which Nanthewiser identified as a (very etiolated) Ferocactus, and possibly F. hamatacanthus,

No drainage holes at the bottom but basically I don't water it other than x2 a year

Ah - so I may be destined forever to have a leaning cactus in at vest a terracotta pot...

No drainage holes??!! That's heresy!! Maybe as it hasn't been watered since January the roots have dried out altogether!
On the plus side, the discolouration is probably corking (often happens in old age) rather than rot, but it deserves a little bit of TLC!

Oh dear - I now feel quite bad.

I think I was trying g to compensate for past history of overwatering succulents and killing them (leaves falling off at the slightest nudge and / or going translucent).

But now I seem to be going the other way and not watering anything. Nearly killing even an aspidistra through neglect.

I have got on of those pokey things you stick Into soil to ascertain whether the soil is dry, ,medium or wet which I find helpful especially for the heresy pots with no holes. However, I cannot get the bloody probe into cactus pot as it's just a giant root ball.

Actually, as I type this, I guess the poor cactus does not some TLC and a bigger pot

What about a pot like this?

www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/classic-glazed-pot-green/classid.2000034112/

Or this one?

www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/mirror-glazed-cylinder/classid.2000032135/

1st one - ie green one - is 30cm x 29cm and £9.99

The,2nd stylish one is Ø32cm x H27cm and £26.99

Both bigger than current pot which is sort of 20cm x 18cm high

PS Both have drainage holes [grin[

If you do repot, in order to protect yourself, you could use a couple of bits of polystyrene each side (if available), or padded tongs, a couple of scrubbing brushes, or bubble wrap. Or a stout leather glove on one hand.

I have super robust gauntlet gloves that enable me to grasp pyracantha and permitted me to repot the cactus in the first place

Could you brace it against a stick or similar until it stops leaning?!

I love this thread, btw 😂

Most dessert cactus like a really good soak in the summer then left to dry out almost completely, as it's like when the rains come in the dessert once a year or whatever. Apparently it also encourages them to flower.

Could you brace it against a stick or similar until it stops leaning?! Only if you can secure the stick to something outside the pot. You need two sticks, with a soft bracket between them for the cactus to lean on - needs to be soft else it will cut into the flesh. If you stick the sticks into the pot itself, they'll simply fall over with the cactus and the pot.

Most dessert cactus like a really good soak in the summer then left to dry out almost completely, as it's like when the rains come in the dessert once a year or whatever. Up to a point. Different genera have slightly different requirements, although they all have in common a need to be completely dry when the weather is cold.

In my experience the main stimulus to good flowering is plenty of light.

Having a bit of a chuckle to myself at the idea of a dessert cactus.

@RolytheRhino, not that crazy! The fruit of some Opuntias is often made into a jam, and the fruit of some species (mainly Mammillarias) taste like strawberries (but you'd need a lot of them!)

Oooh, interesting. What does the Opuntias jam taste like?

On my way into work this morning, I felt a bit sad and guilty that I have not been giving my 40 year old cactus a bit more care - especially as it has been with me since I was a child.

I know cactuses are des(s)ert plants - but I guess they still need water. Maybe the soil has dried out so much that this is contributing to the tilting of the cactus. I hope I have not killed it through thirst.

Out of guilt, I have purchased x2 offensively expensive pots online, one of which I'll use to repot the bruiser, and then give it a bit more care (whilst not drowning it into a rotten mess). They are due for delivery on Saturday and I will post again to show what cactus looks like when repotted.

The funny thing with the original cactus is that it was grown from seed in garden soil (mother didn't allow me compost, that was reserved for 'her' gardening) and until recently ha

Be that as it may, out

@RolytheRhino and @NanTheWiser

You are right - looking at the pictures, the cactus does look very rotten. I will have a go at easing it out of its pot tonight and check...

@RolytheRhino - take a look at this for some cactus desserts and savouries - www.succulent-plant.com/crecipe.html

Thanks, I'll take a look.

The funny thing with the original cactus is that it was grown from seed in garden soil (mother didn't allow me compost, that was reserved for 'her' gardening) and until recently ha

Garden soil may have been better than compost if it was better draining. My cacti-enthusiast friend did note the compost usage and suggest you use something grittier instead.

😢

Unfortunately @NanTheWiserwas right - having taken cactus out of pot, the roots were completely desiccated and largely disintegrated . Soil dry and dusty. I am a bit upset That I may have killed a childhood cactus through under watering.

I have Lightly sprayed the residual roots with water and will nevertheless repot on Saturday...

Don't fret he's not dead, your plan is good, he'll be ok. Maybe water ever so slightly more often though...

Hi, might this help?