How to Save a Rotted Cactus

Cacti are generally problem-free plants. Give them a spot of sunlight and a minimal amount of care, and they will grow healthily and happily. In fact, one of the cacti's only real enemies is too much water. Overwatering is the primary cause of cactus rot in the home garden. If you notice that your plant has begun to get mushy, act quickly and you may be able to remedy the problem. Even cacti rotted all the way down to the soil line can bounce back with proper care.

Knife

Soap

Coffee filter

Cacti soil

Cut the top of the cacti off with a sharp knife. Make the cut at least 2 inches above the rotted plant material.

Leave the cut cacti piece on its side indoors in a cool, dry spot for 24 to 72 hours or until the cut bottom of the cacti piece dries and callouses over.

Change the cacti's soil. Over-watering is a common cause of rot, but fungal problems in the soil may also be the root of the cause. Empty the old pot, wash it with soapy water, rinse and dry. Place a disposable coffee filter in the bottom of the pot to prevent soil escaping through the drainage holes. Re-fill the pot with fresh cacti soil, available at most home garden centers. Do not use regular potting soil. It retains too much water and may eventually cause your cacti to rot again. If the cacti is growing in the landscape, consider moving it indoors where you can better control its exposure to water. Or, plant it in a drier spot that contains sandy well-drained soil.

Re-plant the piece of cacti you cut off in the new soil. Sit it just deep enough to keep it from toppling over.

Water the soil once weekly during the cacti's first two weeks of growth, while it is putting down new roots.

Cut the rotted portion of the cacti away with a sharp knife. Make the pruning cut at least one inch into healthy tissue to make sure that you prune away all of the rotted tissue.

Dispose of the rotted portion of the cacti. It cannot be saved or re-potted.

Make sure that your potted cacti is growing in a cacti-succulent mixture. If it is not, you will need to re-pot the plant in an appropriate mixture. Potting or garden soil retains too much moisture and will likely lead to more rotting problems. If your cacti is growing in the landscape in an area where water pools after a hard rain, consider potting it with cacti soil mixture.

Make sure your cacti is growing in a pot with growing holes in the bottom.

Water your cacti correctly to prevent further rotting. Landscape cacti generally only need watering twice monthly when temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit if there has been no rain during the period. Cut back to once monthly when temperatures are low with little raid. Water potted cacti once weekly, twice weekly if the cacti is outdoors and the weather is 90 dgrees or higher. Water until water drips out of the drainage holes in the pot. A pot tray will catch the dripping water. Empty the tray of collected water after 15 minutes. Try not to wet the body of the cacti when you water.

Not all changes in your cacti's tissue are rot. Hard, woody cactus material is a sign of aging rather than. Make sure that your cacti is mushy and rotten before you cut.