Why is my cactus turning black
CACTUS CARE TIPS | WHY IS MY CACTUS TURNING BROWN?
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hey everyone it's succulentsbox here
again in this video we'll be talking
about the underlying issues of a cactus
turning brown as cactus is one of the
most forgiving plants that doesn't
require much care it is quite alarming
to see parts of your cactus start to
turn brown however don't worry there are
a few things you can do to fix it and
we're here to help you
let's start with root rot one of the
most common reasons for your cactus to
turn brown root rot is easy to identify
normally you'll know it's root rot if
the browning starts at the base of the
cactus and at the same time the stems
feel soft mushy and look yellow
you can wear gloves and gently squeeze
your plant to check it
now saving a root rotted cactus can be a
bit difficult but it is possible as soon
as you see early signs of rot developing
immediately stop watering replace the
old soil with fresh porous and
well-drained soil
check to see how bad the root rot is and
cut off some of the rot parts as well as
some of the healthy tissue
this is to prevent the root from
spreading
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another reason for browning tissues in
your plant would be sun damage although
cacti are fairly hardy they are still
prone to sunburn especially when exposed
to high intensity sunlight sunburnt
cactus looks patchy depending on the
gravity of the burn the damage may
appear in brown black or tan color
patches generally the more intense the
sunburn the darker the discoloration
when you notice the early sign of
sunburn damage like yellowing on the
surface of the plant immediately
transfer your cactus to another spot or
cover it with the shade cloth give your
cactus a spot where it receives five to
six hours of indirect or filtered
sunlight per day you should make sure to
protect your cactus from intense light
sometimes your cactus turns brown as
part of the natural aging process
there would be firm brown corking issues
starting from the base of the plant and
moving upward you can also find corking
spots further up the cactus corking is a
normal part of an aging cactus it
involves a change in color and texture
of a cactus which usually begins from
the base of the cactus and moves upward
this is natural for a mature plant and
there is nothing you can do
unfortunately
please note that if the browning of your
cactus starts at the top down then it's
not corking it's most likely a sign of
sunburn or other issues
there are actually other reasons your
cactus develop round spots or patches
your cactus might be damaged by fungus
or pests check carefully it could be a
fungus issue to treat fungus apply
fungicide solution directly to the
affected areas of your cactus to get rid
of the spores and stop them from
spreading any further if there are small
white bumps in the browning part this is
likely a sign of mealy bug infestation
if there are tiny webbings that could
come from spider mites mites or bugs can
also be scraped off using a cotton swab
dipped in 70 percent isopropyl foal
alcohol
these pests like dry hot conditions and
dislike high humidity
scales with hard brown shell coverings
can also be mistaken to be brown spots
they weaken the cactus and make them
look yellow as they suck its juices
through the leaves to remove the scales
all you have to do is spray your cactus
with a stream of water or wash it with a
weak solution of detergent
you can then kill the scales using
cotton swab dipped in horticultural oil
to completely get rid of the pest you
can use a miticide according to the
manufacturer's directions
that's how to identify the reasons your
cactus turns brown and how to save it
accordingly however please remember that
these solutions may not work if damages
are already at an advanced stage after
all it's easier to prevent browning than
it is to deal with it we suggest that
you follow a care guide for cacti to
keep your plants healthy
make sure your cactus has proper light
and soil conditions and water it
correctly to prevent over watering
inspect your plant regularly to protect
them from fungus pests and other issues
thank you so much for watching everyone
we hope you found some helpful tips to
save your cactus from turning brown if
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