Why is my cactus floppy Or Why Is My Cactus Drooping ? The cactus is a member of the Cactaceae family. It is a succulent plant that has spines. Cacti include about 127 genera and 1750 species, which shows the great diversity of this plant. Most of them are resistant to heat and dehydration; on the other hand, some of the cacti are native to humid regions of the world. Cactus is known as an easy-to-care plant, but it needs attention and care; otherwise, it might get diseased, or some pest can cause the cactus wilting. Wilting cactus is a common problem due to improper watering and light, bad temperature, etc. Read this article to the end to find out why your cactus is getting floppy and how to fix this problem.
Cactus wilting can have different reasons such as improper watering, pests and blight, improper temperature etc. in the following, we will cover all the mentioned reasons and how to overcome them. If you have an aglaonema plant at home or at work, you can read the article why aglaonema leaves drooping.Also, if you have brown spot on cactus, be sure to read its article.
Underwatering is the first reason for cactus wilting.
When it comes to wilting cactus, underwatering is the first thing that comes to mind. Although cactus need less watering than other houseplants, the cactus plant must receive enough water to survive. The dehydrated cactus gets floppy and looks wrinkled. Also, they might get a purplish color. The cactus gets wilting and droops when it does not receive enough water because it does not receive enough nutrients and energy, which causes the stems to weaken and droop. Although cactus does not need much watering during winter, you shouldn’t stop watering it during that time. If you do so, your plant will lose some of its roots, and during summer, when it receives a lot of water, it will face stress. If you reduce watering in winter, make sure to put it in a cool place (but not cold). If the plant remains in a state of dehydration for a long time, it will lose more roots, which means the cactus will weaken.
Overwatering and cactus being floppy
Since overwatering is one of the most common reasons for cactus drooping, you should be careful about its signs. Of these signs, we can name softening of plant tissue, cactus drooping and lightening of the color of the cactus. You can determine whether to water your cactus once or twice a week by checking the time it takes for the soil to dry completely. Note that you shouldn’t water cactus while the soil is still moist. You should check the drainage as well. If your pot has a proper drainage system, the excess water will flow out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot; This indicates the proper humidity for your cactus.
Overwatering can cause root rot. To determine whether your cactus is suffering from root rot, you need to carefully remove the plant’s roots from the container and check them. If they were brown, squishy and mushy, your cactus probably has rottenness.
If you diagnose root rot at the early stages, you can still save your cactus. To do this, gently take the cactus out of its pot. Cut off the damaged roots and clean the healthy ones.
Keep it in a light and warm room overnight and, let the roots dry in the morning, plant it in fresh soil rich in nutrients.
Temperature and cactus wilting
Most cactus species love warm weather and are not used to growing in cold climates; therefore, they will get frostbite if you keep them in a cold place.
If the cactus is exposed to cold weather, even for a few hours, it can cause black spots on your plant. Over a few days, these black spots will get dry, and your cactus will start drooping. In such cases, you can easily overcome this problem by providing proper light, temperature and watering. If you keep them outdoors, like in a garden, cover the plant with a cotton sheet to get more heat, and you should move the plants in the pot inside.
Pests and cactus wilting
One of those pests that can cause cactus wilting is the mealybug. This pest can infect many indoor plants, even cacti. So, if you witness any signs of a mealybug, separate the infected plant from others immediately. Mealybug is a white cotton-like pest. This pest sucks the water of the cactus plant and leaves small spots on the plant, and spreads the disease. These pests can cause the plant to lose its strength, weaken it, and eventually cause the cactus to droop. Sometimes, you can’t recognize these small creatures; nevertheless, you should do a more detailed examination if your cactus is getting weaker and floppier. The simplest way to get rid of mealybug is to use a mixture of Isopropyl alcohol 70% solution. Be patient while trying to eliminate these pests and blights; sometimes, you need to fight this pest in several stages. When using alcohol, do not put the plant under strong sunlight; because it will burn the plant.
Light shortage and wilting cactus
The cactus is a Heliophile plant. The problem is highly due to light shortage if your cactus is getting sufficient water and there is no pest and disease. Cacti need sunlight for photosynthesis and metabolism. If they don’t get enough sunlight, they can produce the needed nutrient, and as a result, they will face wilting and drooling. Note that each cactus plant needs a different amount of sunlight.
Does the size of the pot play a role in cactus wilting?
Cactus roots prefer to grow in small spaces. So, using a big pot for your cactus might get floppy and start drooping. Moreover, it can’t absorb enough water, which can hurt your plant in the long term. To change the cactus pot, you need to look at the bottom of the container. If the roots have come out of the drainage holes, it’s time to change the soil and use a bigger pot.
Practical tips:
- During the hot months of summer, when the temperature is high, cacti slow down or stop their activity; that in technical terms is called “aestivation”. It lives on its stored water during this time, which means you can water your cactus every two weeks.
- Cactus thrives better in well-drained soil. Keeping the soil moist or waterlogging cactus will lead to cactus wilting.
- Most of the time, It is more likely to save a cactus that is underwatered than an overwatered cactus.
- Cactus loves sunlight but make sure it doesn’t get burnt. If the cactus that you keep inside is getting yellow or you see brown spots on the cactus on the side facing the sun, move the plant a little because it is burning from the strong light.
- If you put your cactus in a room where the light doesn’t reach it all the time, the plant will be “pulled” towards the sunlight and grow towards the light. This process is called etiolation, and it is irreparable Etiolated cactus sometimes looks like it is wilting or drooping.
- Water it with fertilizer in spring and summer if you want to fertilize your cactus to receive additional nutrients. Follow the instruction with the time and amount of it. When the colder months come, you can stop using fertilizer until next spring and summer.
If you have any comments or questions about Cactus Drooping, ask in the comments.