Expert: Greg Simpson - 10/26/2006

Question
Hi Greg,

I moved to Phoenix last year and after a few months I xeriscaped my backyard to save on water.  Before knowing about their watering requirements I bought a few San Pedro cacti (fast growing cactus, what could be better). I planted them in indirect sunlight, and have watered them off and on.  That was about eight months ago.

One of the cacti, the one that gets the most sunlight, grew quickly adding an additional rib and another six inches before the summer heat.  Over the last month or so the cactus has faded from a vibrant green-blue to a brown-yellow-green, begun leaning to the west and the ribs have become very narrow.  The other two cacti are doing fine.  

Any thoughts?
Thanks
Phil  

Answer
Dear Phil,

What you experienced sounds like root damage, maybe from too much water. I also live in the Phoenix area and we got more rain this summer than I can remember (I've lived in Phoenix for more than 30 years). I had a cactus do the same thing (different type)and It finally fell over so I replanted it in a pot in the shade in the backyard. That was about a month ago and it is just now starting to recover.

You can try the same thing, or wait to see if it recovers on its own. Just make sure its not receiving any water from a drip system this time of year. If the roots have not died completely, it should recover.

Sincerely,

Greg