Why Is My Cactus Losing Color

Some symptoms can indicate major issues that could ultimately cause your plant to die. In case you still have time to save your cactus, make careful to take action as soon as you see any of these symptoms.

Discoloring

Cacti plants typically begin to lose their natural color when under stress or pressure. The discoloration may start at the top end of stem segments or from the plant’s base, depending on where the true problem is.

Death is almost certain if you do not act quickly in cases of severe discolouration.

Your plant become wobbly

If your cactus has started to sway, you should be concerned as this is an obvious indicator of root rot. Remember that since succulents grow slowly, indications of underlying issues manifest gradually as well.

It’s possible that the roots have already become irreparably rotting by the time you notice the symptoms.

The cactus may already be in a serious condition if the base of your plant has turned yellow or brown.

One of the most frequent causes of cactus death is by far root rot. A lack of rigidity and turgidity in the plant’s leaves and stem is a common symptom of root rot.

Take your plant off the ground, find all the rotting roots, and cut them off to try and save it.

Depending on the degree of rot, rotten roots could seem brown or even blackish, whereas healthy roots would be pale in color.

Presence of soft segments around the plant

Most often, stem sections will appear fragile and swollen along with discoloration. These pieces are easily breakable with little effort.

Pulling a spine off is the simplest approach to determine whether there are any soft segments around your plant. You should be concerned if it comes off without any effort and slips off easily.

Fungal infection

Another indication that a cactus plant is dying is a fungus infection. Fungal infections are simple to spot since they cause lacerations in the cactus plant’s tissues. Any area of the exterior tissue, including the areolae, can get lacerated.

There are several various forms and hues of fungi, but there are only two that are widespread.

A fungal infection is indicated by the presence of brown dents on the plant’s exterior tissue that are rounded in most places like half-moons. Another indication of a fungus infection is the formation of white-gray patches.

Despite not being as harmful as root rot, fungus infections on the aerial section of the plant are nevertheless detrimental.

Spraying your plant with a natural fungicide is the best approach to stop future harm caused by such illnesses. To cure such infections, the majority of people prefer using tea tree oil diluted in water.

As an alternative, you could soak the impacted regions in alcohol for until long is necessary. Consider chopping off the afflicted region and sterilizing the wound, but only if the infection was too serious and has already harmed a portion of your plant.

Foul smell coming from your plant

You should be concerned if your cactus plant starts to smell awful because this is a warning indicator. If the plant has a bad scent, it probably can’t be saved because a large portion of it is fully rotting.

In other words, your plant is dead and no longer in the process of dying. If you still need a cactus plant around, your only option in this situation is to get rid of the old one and buy a new one.

Why did my cactus turn drab?

Green, sturdy leaves and spines are indicators of a healthy cactus plant. If it becomes white or pale, there may be a number of things you’re not doing correctly. Let’s quickly go over each one in order to assist you decide which one applies to your current circumstance and what you can do to make it green again.

Due to chlorophyll loss, frost damage, and mold growth brought on by inadequate ventilation, cactus plants can become white and pallid. Move the cactus to a warm location to prevent frost damage, provide bright indirect sunlight, and enhance airflow around the succulent to prevent it from turning pale.

Why is the green on my cactus becoming paler?

Overwatering is frequently the cause of cacti turning yellow. Cacti occasionally require watering, but in most situations this should happen less frequently than once per week.

Your plant will begin to turn yellow (and occasionally have some brown spots on its edges) and eventually die if you overwater it.

A standing puddle around the base of the plants or pots should be avoided as well because this might result in overwatering issues like root rot or stem decay.

Try letting the soil dry out between waterings if you suspect that your cactus is becoming yellow as a result of overwatering.

If this doesn’t resolve the issue, check sure there are no standing puddles close to the base of the structure and that it is receiving enough sunlight and airflow.

Not Enough Sun Exposure

Since cacti require a lot of light to develop and thrive, if you keep one in the dark for an extended period of time, its color will begin to change.

Make sure there are no obstructions preventing sunlight from reaching the plant if it is outdoors.

Additionally, observe whether any of your plants need more strong light because they were recently repotted before they start to produce new green growth.

A succulent plant’s color will also depend on where it is located inside, as some artificial lighting can lead them to change color over time.

Place your indoor cactus in a location with lots of natural light.

Too Much Sun Exposure

However, cacti can become fried and become yellow if they are planted in a location where they are exposed to strong sunshine.

Cacti frequently get sunburned and turn yellow if they are left in the sun for an extended period of time.

Relocating your plant so that it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day is the best method to avoid this.

Your cactus plant can also be placed in an area with early and afternoon shade, or you can put up a sun-blocking screen.

If you transfer your cactus from a shaded place to a sunny one, yellowing may also occur.

The plant will suffer exposure damage and turn yellow if it isn’t used to getting so much sun.

But it won’t always be this this! Your cactus’s natural defenses will also strengthen as you gradually expose it to more sunshine, which should stop any further damage or yellow discolouration.

Not Enough Water During Hot Weather or Drought Conditions

Too much sun, drought, or even putting the plant in a pot for a few weeks without any watering can all contribute to this.

You’ll need to water more frequently and thoroughly till the soil is moist once more to resolve this issue.

Misting your plant can also prevent it from turning yellow if there isn’t any rain or moisture in the air.

If your cactus has been yellow for a while and they live in a hot area or a drought, you might want to attempt the following:

Make sure it isn’t being sunburned by being in a place with too much light first.

If this is not the cause of the yellowing, make sure to water the plant frequently and wait until the soil is totally dry before watering it again.

A location with some shade or close to an open window where there may be some humidity in the air is another option for moving your plant.

Poor Soil With Low Nutrient Content

Your cactus plant will become yellow if it is being grown in a pot with inadequate soil and little nutrient content.

Cacti require premium, porous soil that can hold plenty of water without becoming top-heavy or prone to tipping over when irrigated.

Because they contain additional elements like iron and calcium, which are crucial for good growth, potting soil mixtures specifically designed for cacti (succulent/cactus soil) are typically highly recommended.

Temperature Change

Changes in temperature are among the most frequent reasons why cacti turn yellow.

They can be brought on by moving the object from one place to another or by positioning it next to a heat source, such as a heater or an oven vent.

Your plant may be turning yellow if you haven’t recently relocated it and the temperature in its current location has considerably altered.

Move your plant to its new place gradually over a few days to avoid cactus yellowing from temperature changes.

You can stop a cactus from turning yellow due to abrupt temperature fluctuations by moving it gently.

A cactus may require some time to recover if it becomes yellow as a result of abrupt changes in its environment.

In this situation, you ought to hold off on more fertilization or irrigation until the color has returned. Otherwise, root rot can develop if water was provided too soon after the temperature change while remaining at high temps.

Keep the soil damp but never wet when gradually moving plants between locations with big temperature fluctuations to help prevent cactus root rot.

Too Much or Not Enough Fertilizer

Over- or underfertilizing a cactus is another factor that might cause it to turn yellow. Lack of water will cause the plant to begin to stress out and eventually turn yellow from a lack of nutrients.

The surface leaves may also turn brown and peel off as they degrade if too much fertilizer is sprayed in one day.

Salts in excess fertilizers accumulate on the soil’s surface and prevent moisture from reaching roots.

Although it’s challenging, the best technique to “correct this problem” is to give the plant consistent watering for at least two weeks without giving it any fertilizer.

After some time, you can gradually reapply fertilizer until the plant’s leaves appear better and have sprouted new leaves.

Pests

Pests attacking a cactus are among the most frequent causes of its yellowing.

Typically, these are pests that have multiplied and populated the plant, sucking away all the nutrients from its yellow leaves, like mealybugs or spider mites.

Check your plants frequently for any indications of insect infestation to avoid this because even a small amount of pests can quickly grow to be overpowering levels.

Most importantly, make sure to remove any dead matter from surrounding or close to your plant so that it won’t be used as food. Dead organic matter will only encourage bugs to multiply.

Simply spray it on the plant and rub it thoroughly to remove any remaining white residue, just like you would with an insect repellent. Although it smells awful, it produces fantastic effects!

Diseases

Cephaleuros wilt, a common fungal disease brought on by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, is one such condition that might manifest this characteristic (Vd).

The plant loses its ability to carry water throughout the rest of its body as a result of this illness, which also causes the tissues that conduct water to die. Yellow may also be a result of other signs of diseases like chlorosis.

Due to their low nutrient uptake, cacti and succulents are most frequently afflicted by chlorosis or iron insufficiency.

When this occurs, you could notice that your plant’s general color is a lighter shade of green with light brown flecks.

Though it can occur at any moment during a cactus’ lifespan, it typically does so when the plant receives either too much (overwatering) or not enough (underwatering) water (underwatering).

Repotting them into new soil will help plants acquire new nutrients and a better drainage system. Then, be careful to use a pair of scissors to remove any dead roots, and immediately provide a lot of direct sunlight!

Frost Damage

The cactus might not be able to recover if the damage from the frost is causing it to become yellow.

Frost damage has the potential to permanently scar the surface of a plant’s leaves and do irreparable damage to its cells and tissues.

This kind of injury typically happens when it is below freezing overnight or when light freezes last for several days.

If possible, try relocating your cactus to a location with more direct sunshine or greater humidity levels in this situation.

If the cactus was damaged by frost, keeping it somewhere with temps about 50 degrees Fahrenheit may help it recover over time.

Move your plant back into its usual environment as soon as this region warms up and new growth starts to emerge. Keep doing this until all traces of frost damage are gone.

Exposure to Chemicals

Some chemicals have the ability to turn cacti yellow. These include fluorine, chlorine, and other elements that can be found in fertilizers or water.

It’s possible that a nearby chemical spill or overuse of these goods surrounding your plants is the source of your cactus’ yellowing.

Moving them away from any suspected sources of contamination, such as sprinklers used on nearby lawns, may help if you feel that this is the cause.

How can you tell whether a cactus is being overwatered or underwatered?

A cactus can suffer considerably more harm from overwatering than from underwatering. Most of the time, it ought to be fairly clear if the cactus has been overwatered.

Symptoms of cactus typically include the following:

  • The stems and leaves of the cactus will begin to change color. Usually black or
  • The cactus’ base will begin to turn brown or black.
  • The cactus will start to rot and leak.
  • It will begin to look as though the cactus is rotting or decomposing.

Root rot does not always become apparent right away. For a while, the outside of your plant could appear normal, but one day you might notice that the lower stem is turning black and becoming a little sticky. The news is quite horrible!

It’s interesting to note that a cactus that has received too much water may occasionally exhibit underwatering symptoms as a result of root rot killing the roots. Overwatered plants can actually get dehydrated because their roots will die and stop transferring water to the rest of the plant.