Yes! If both cacti are still healthy, you may be able to save one of them. Not mushy, still firm, not excessively dark or stained are considered signs of good health.
We will first determine whether your cactus has been overwatered before discussing what may be done to salvage each individual portion of your cactus.
By selecting one of the following, you can move on to the next stage with confidence that you haven’t overwatered your cactus: Rootstock preservation (the green stalk supporting the colorful cactus on top) protecting the Scion (the colorful, spiny top cactus) A Different Way to Save the Scion
Remember that your moon cactus isn’t intended to live for very long, so it’s highly likely that it’s dying (especially if you’ve had it for a while). It might not be related to your care. Perhaps you provided it with the ideal environment!
Has your moon cactus been overwatered?
Your cactus may have been overwatered if more than one of these is accurate:
- Your rootstock is mushy or becoming brown.
- Even though the ground is wet and squishy, you haven’t watered your cactus in the past 24 hours.
- The cactus’s roots are mushy and brown or black when you check them.
- The cactus’ soil does not drain well.
- Prior to letting the earth totally dry up, you have been watering.
If you don’t already, it would be a good idea to check the roots for indications of root rot if you have any of these symptoms (brown or black, mushy roots).
If the rootstock of a cactus with root rot is mushy, there is little that can be done to salvage it. You could move on to the part that describes how to graft the scion onto a new rootstock if the scion is sound and firm.
You do have a choice if the rootstock is not mushy but the roots are rotten. You’ll need to: 1. Remove all brown or black, mushy roots; only the white, healthy roots should be retained. 2. After that, replant in loose soil and stop watering your plant for at least a few weeks. 3. After you water, wait until the soil is completely dry before you water again.
Your cactus will be content if you plant it in well-draining soil and make sure to wait until the earth is totally dry before watering it once more. This assumes that the roots are still white and healthy.
Important Information: If your moon cactus isn’t getting enough light to utilize the water you’re giving it, you should offer it more light. Light is very important to cacti.
They will flourish in windows that face either the west or the east. They will also be content close to a south-facing window. They won’t get enough light if they’re put more than about a foot from a window, and watering them during periods of low light will be problematic.
To make sure it gets adequate light, I keep mine right on the sill of a west-facing window.
To photosynthesize or produce food, the plant utilizes water and light. The water remains there unused since the plant cannot photosynthesize without enough light. When its roots are left in the stagnant water, they develop root rot, which damages the plant.
Saving the Rootstock
Because it is using all of its efforts to nourish the scion, the rootstock is simply unable to sustain itself. The rootstock will callus over and start to support itself if the scion or ball cactus on top is removed.
Here is how to develop your own cactus from the rootstock alone:
- Obtain a good, clean knife.
- Make a clean incision through the Hylocereus undatus cactus below the scion with the knife. You want to get rid of the entire scion. It is acceptable to take some of the rootstock or Hylocereus undatus out as well.
- Place your happy Hylocereus undatus back in a sunny window after the scion has been removed so that it has time to callous over.
- Give it some time and just water it when the soil is dry.
Can you revive a dead cactus?
While skin-deep disorders in the upper body of the cactus can be easily handled, those that have spread to the roots typically result in a plant that is slowly dying. Excision of the diseased tissue works successfully for the majority of cacti. Dig out the damaged flesh with a clean, sharp knife, then let the hole dry out. When the wound is healing, avoid overhead watering.
There is not much you can do if the roots have been affected by the harm. You could attempt to repot the plant by removing the unhealthy soil and adding sterile soil in its place. Before replotting the roots in a new potting medium, thoroughly wash the roots out.
Taking cuttings and allowing them to grow roots for a brand-new plant is another way to salvage a mushy, soft cactus. Before inserting the cutting into the sand, give it a few days to callus over. The cutting may need to be rooted for several weeks. A healthy cactus that looks exactly like the parent plant will be created using this method of propagation.
My moon cactus is withering, why?
The stem is frequently rotting if it begins to turn brown. A strong, green stem is a sign of health. The most frequent reason for a cactus plant’s brown, rotting stem is root rot, which is nearly always caused by either overwatering, inadequate drainage, or both. Sadly, this can spell doom for your moon cactus. The plant won’t be able to recover if the roots are killed, however you can simply check this. Examine the roots by gently removing the plant from the pot or digging it out. The plant is likely dead if they are slimy and brown. If they are white and firm, consider replanting the cactus in a fresh pot or garden spot with new, sterile soil.
Can you regrow a moon cactus?
In a procedure that involves cutting off the top of the rootstock cactus and the bottom of the Hibotan, the moon cactus is typically sold already grafted. The sliced edges of the two sections are secured together, and they soon heal together. Re-grafting the moon cactus onto a new rootstock will increase its lifespan.
Additionally, it can be grown from seed, although it will take at least a year to produce a usable specimen. Sprinkle some fine sand on top of the seeds after scattering them over a dry succulent mixture. For germination, moisten the flat and move it to a warm area. Replant the seedlings in groups for the best results once they are big enough to be taken out.
Removing the offsets, which are tiny replicas of the parent plant growing from the rootstock, is the more typical way to propagate moon cacti. In cactus potting soil, these easily divide and take root.
Are moon cacti difficult to maintain?
A moon cactus is difficult to mistake because of its vivid pink, yellow, or orange coloring. The vibrant neon hues are typically shaped like thorny, round balls that are perched on another cactus with a green color. Because it is actually two plants in one and was created by humans, the small moon cactus is a strange plant.
The bright part of the plant needed to be grafted onto the second plant below in order to live. Many people are unaware that they are looking at two distinct plants when they see these highly recognizable small cactus plants at their neighborhood plant nurseries.
The lovely, vivid, colored section of the moon cactus does not naturally produce chlorophyll, and this deficiency enables the vivid, bright hues to show. Therefore, it needs to be human grafted to another plant or rootstock in order to continue surviving. After that, it may receive the necessary quantities of nutrients and chlorophyll from the second plant that it is now perched atop.
It’s not at all difficult to grow and care for these unusual small cacti plants. They require very little upkeep, and taking care of several moon cactus plants at once is not much more difficult than taking care of one. Moon cacti are a simple choice for folks who are new to horticulture because they require very little upkeep and may provide color and life to your window seal or porch area.
How can I revive my dead cactus?
HOW TO SAVE A DIEING CACTUS AND RENEW YOUR PLANT
- REMOVE ROTTING COMPONENTS. Overwatering is typically indicated by rotting.
- CHANGE THE DAILY LIGHT.
- REVERSE WATERING.
- RINSE OFF DUST AND GREEN.
- PEST & INSECT CONTROL.
- FERTILIZE WITH LOW NITROGEN.
- ALLOW THEM TO DRY
- WATCH FOR DISCOLORATION & MUSHY SECTIONS.
What does a cactus that is dying look like?
Possible dead cactus symptoms include: Cacti topple over or are exceedingly flimsy in the ground. Spikes could come off. These two symptoms point to both root rot and overwatering. Yellow turns brown in color.
How long are moon cacti alive for?
A Moon Cactus can live for one to three years on average. There are a few anecdotes, though, of succulent keepers who have preserved specimens for considerably longer than five years. However, it is not uncommon for a Moon Cactus to only last a few months, particularly if you are unfamiliar with taking care of one.
Why is my moon cactus becoming mushy and yellow?
Colors can reveal a lot about a plant’s health. While every situation is different in its complexity, there are a few common causes for why your cactus became yellow. Fortunately, most of them are fixable or reversible.
Placement
Cacti demand a very particular amount of direct light each day while being simple to care for. A full day of sunlight, according to the majority of online sources, lasts between six and nine hours. Even though succulents like the cactus do need all day long exposure to sunshine, placing it on a window sill may be too much for the plant.
Place the cactus behind a small curtain instead. The plant wouldn’t burn from the sun’s beams, and there would be enough sunlight.
If you want to cultivate cactus in your backyard, you should plant them where they will receive enough sunlight without burning. We do not advise growing cacti outside because Australia can experience wet winters that will drown the plant.
Watering Incorrectly
Cacti are considered desert plants, yet they still require adequate watering. Make sure water is draining from the drainage holes whenever you water your succulent.
Remove any stones that are stuck to the bottom if you feel like you have added enough water but nothing is passing through the openings at the bottom of the pot. This is how most cactus are marketed, and frequently the stones obstruct the drainage.
Overwatering
It can be harmful to water your cactus too frequently. Your succulent will start to turn yellow if the soil is kept overly damp. The plant cannot survive in such moist conditions, and this is an indication of stress.
Only water your cactus when the soil is completely dry. Invest in a cheap moisture meter so you can monitor the amount of moisture in the soil precisely.
Underwatering
Another issue is when there is not enough water available. Your cactus will turn yellow if you just water it once every month. Water your plant frequently because the nutrients it provides are essential.
To set reminders, use the phone’s calendar. You will learn the ideal watering interval after keeping an eye on your cactus for about a month.
Can you revive a drowning cactus?
But if you notice any green on your cactus, there’s a strong possibility you can still revive it, regardless of how awful it appears. The task of saving an overwatered cactus is definitely doable. With some patience and some work, you can grow a healthy cactus in a few weeks.