How To Rescue a Cactus From Root Rot!

Barry’s Cactus Club cacti are some of the easiest plants to look after which is what makes them perfect house plants! But, their biggest enemy is, you guessed it: root rot. Some of the telltale signs of root rot include a spotty or discoloured appearance, wilting or drooping of the stem and a mushy appearance. 

Is your cactus suffering from root rot? Fear not cacti lovers, Barry brings his top tips on how to nurse your prickly pal back to good health. 

You will need:

• Cactus potting mix 

• A pot 

• A sharp knife 

• Water

Steps to rescue your cactus

Photograph by: Arifur Rahman, gardenforindoor.com

1) Slice off the top three quarters of the plant with a knife, make sure its super clean!  If the cactus is brown in the centre, take off another slice until it's light in colour. Brown means that there is bacteria.

2) Allow the cutting to dry until the wound has completely healed over. Give it two-to-three weeks and place the cutting on top of a dry cactus potting mix. If he has shrivelled, give him a splash of water.

3) Once you see roots, dampen the top of the soil but don’t soak. The dry period will stimulate better root growth!

The process works best in the spring and summer, a winter rescue will take much longer to see new roots.

Wanting to start your own plant collection? Join the cactus club by visiting barryscactusclub.com