Why Is My Cactus Turning White

Cacti will begin to turn white and appear crispy if they are placed in an area with excessive direct sunlight.

The UV rays from the sun are causing the cactus to get burnt and killing the live cells on its skin.

As a result of all the water draining from its leaves, needles, or spines, it starts to get dehydrated.

Why is the white on my cactus there?

White spots on cacti are typically brought on by an insect infestation. Mealybug or scale shields can be seen as the white patches. White spots on cacti can also be caused by fungus development brought on by necrotic spot virus or powdery mildew. Treat white spots as soon as you notice them and have determined their cause because, frequently, yellowing and aberrant foliage appear after white spots appear.

Why is the color on my cactus fading?

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. The lacerations may start at the areolae or any other part of the outer tissue.

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.

How can you spot a dying cactus?

When a cactus looks shriveled and husk-like, it is dead. Additionally, dead cacti can become unstable in their soil and topple over. They could start to smell rancid and becoming mushy, both of which are indicators that they are rotting. Cacti that are dead lose their spines and frequently appear brown.

How can you determine if a cactus has been overwatered or not?

The cactus won’t typically seem radically different from day to day because underwatering typically happens gradually over time.

There are a few indicators, nevertheless, that will let you know if your cactus is submerged.

Signs of an Underwatered Cactus

Knowing the warning signals of an underwatered cactus is crucial for prompt response. Your cactus will have a better chance of recovering if you do this.

The most typical warning indicators of a submerged cactus include:

The Cactus Is Light Green or Yellowish

Since this normally happens gradually over time, the color change might not be apparent right away.

If your cactus begin to become light green or yellowish, keep an eye out for more symptoms of an underwatered plant.

The Spines Are Falling off Easily

A well-watered cactus has roots that go far into the ground and take in water there.

Their root systems do not, however, work correctly while they are underwater because the dearth of nutrients in the soil leads them to wither away.

As a result, the spines become fragile and easily detach.

another typical indicator of a submerged cactus

The Cactus Is Wilting

Due to nutrient deficiency, their spines cannot support the plant adequately, which causes them to lose their shape.

As a result, plants that were formerly upright and in good shape gradually start to sag or droop.

Decay at the Base of the Plant

Roots will cease developing and begin to deteriorate over time if they are unable to absorb enough nutrients from the soil as a result of a lack of water, which will eventually result in decay at the base of the plant.

It’s possible that you won’t immediately notice whether or not your cacti are underwater because this normally happens gradually.

The New Growth on Your Cacti Is Weak and off Center With Older Growth

Lack of nutrients will have an impact on how a cactus develops new limbs.

In this instance, you’ll see that the younger growth is somewhat deformed and less symmetrical than the older ones-another indication that the cactus has been submerged.

How frequently do cacti need to be watered?

The most frequent reason for cacti failure is improper watering, whether it is done too much or too little. Cacti have evolved to store water for extended periods of time and can maintain moisture through droughts because they are endemic to arid regions and dry temperatures. They have a limited capacity, which is why over-watering can result in a variety of issues.

When it comes to regularity, watering your cacti will largely depend on the season but also on the variety. Checking the soil is the easiest technique to determine whether your cactus needs water: It’s time for a drink if the top inch is dry. That entails applying the “soak and dry procedure” on cactus.

What is the soak and dry method?

The soak and dry technique is thoroughly wetting the soil until part of it begins to flow out the drainage hole, then waiting until the mixture is nearly dry before wetting it once more. If done properly, this strategy will help them endure a period of under-watering should you need to travel or leave the house because it takes use of their natural tendency to store water (or if you just get busy and watering falls to the wayside, as happens to all of us now and again).

Watering during the growing season versus the inactive season

Like with many houseplants, the season affects how frequently you need water. It becomes more crucial that you get in the habit of examining the soil to determine whether your cacti are thirsty. Generally, the rule of thumb is that during the growing season, a healthy cactus will need to be watered every one to two weeks. The frequency changes to once every three to four weeks during the off-season.

Even then, it’s crucial to examine the soil. The same way that not all interior spaces and not all cacti are alike. The only way to be certain that your cactus require watering is to carefully examine the soil to determine how dry it is because there are so many different factors.

What can I do to make my cactus greener?

Yes, but it also depends on how badly the plant was hurt. The cactus has a higher chance of recovering if the damage is not too serious. The first step in treating an overwatered cactus is to stop providing water to the plant. If you have the plant watered, say, once a week as per your timetable, stop and let it dry up and recover.

What causes the whitened succulents?

Throughout the summer, generous watering of succulents is advised. Between waterings, their potting mix should be let to dry out; do not submerge. Reduce watering to once every two months in the winter, when plants go dormant.

The most frequent reason why succulents fail is overwatering (and the potential plant rot it can bring about). An overwatered succulent may initially swell up and appear to be in excellent health, but the cause of death may already have begun to take hold underground, with rot rising from the plant’s root system.

Succulents that have received excessive water have softer, discolored leaves that may turn yellow or white and lose their color. Even though a plant in this state may be beyond saving, you can still take it out of its pot to look at the roots. Cut out the dead roots and repot the plant in drier potting soil if the roots are brown and rotting. Alternatively, you can take a healthy cutting and propagate the parent plant.

Similar to how a plant that isn’t getting enough water will first cease growing before losing leaves. On the other hand, the plant could get brown blotches on its leaves.

How are cacti kept healthy?

With their striking shapes of all kinds and stunning color variations, cacti are among the world’s most distinctive and lovely plants. They go well with a variety of home decor themes, including minimalist, boho, and, of course, anything with a southwestern influence! Who hasn’t had the need to collect each and every one of the miniature cactus plants on display and take them home? Plants require proper care once they have been adopted because they are more than just static decoration. Cactus plant care isn’t tough, but it is a little special, just like the plants themselves! Below are our top five suggestions.

Location Observation

You may probably imagine what type of environment cactus prefer since they typically grow in desert climates! Sunlight in plenty. But take care! Even cactus can burn, particularly if they are in full sunshine and positioned behind a glass window, which intensifies the effects of the sun. The best window is one that faces south. You may need to move your cactus to a cooler location if you see that the side facing the sun is beginning to turn yellow or brown.

Keep your cactus in a bright area of the house, such as one with artificial lighting. You can put your cactus outside on the patio throughout the summer to take advantage of the intense summer sun.

Hydration Fixation

For many plant owners, watering cacti plants has been a worrying thought. We know they need water because they’re plants, but at the same time we’ve been told not to give them too much water because they’re from the desert! Cacti actually require regular waterings; they only have a particular defense against drought.

The need of water cannot be overstated if you want your cactus to grow. You can feed them water once a week if they are in a sunny area with good daytime heat. The sole need is that the soil be completely dry between waterings. This will prevent the plant’s bottom margins and roots from rotting or becoming wet.

You can use less water in the winter because there is less sun and it gets colder at night during this season, which causes cactus to go dormant.

Flirt with the Dirt

A variety of cacti species are grown together in a container garden to create an oasis of lovely plants, and these gardens are highly popular. This frequently necessitates repotting the cacti! Consider the type of soil you’re using in the new container in addition to constantly wearing thick gloves (or using salad tongs to pick up and handle the cactus). Cacti prefer their own distinctive flavor of dirt, thus it must be highly efficient at draining surplus water. Many nurseries and flower stores sell bags of cactus soil, which is sandier and rockier than standard potting soil. This is necessary to ensure that the water drains and doesn’t keep the cactus damp.

Plotted and Potted

Take a close look at the container you are selecting before you repot the cactus. The best option is undoubtedly a container with drainage holes, as you won’t have to worry about the bottom collecting water. Cacti can, however, also be grown in containers without drainage holes; it just requires a little more attention. Always check the soil before watering to make sure it is completely dry. To avoid unintentionally drowning your cacti, another alternative is to meter the water you use. Depending on the season, a 1/4 to 1/2 cup per week or two is sufficient to ensure the health of your cactus.

In the Mood for Food

Fertilizer can be quite beneficial for cacti, and there are specific types with the nutrients they require. (An additional excellent alternative for a well-balanced supper is a 10-10-10 fertilizer.) Since they love to be fed in little quantities frequently, you can fertilize them sparingly with each watering during the summer growing season. In the winter, decrease your efforts to give the plants time to recuperate.

BONUS TIPDress up Your Cacti

Cacti are lovely guys on their own, but it’s always fun to give them a little makeover! From a lovely pot with extra personality to organic accents. Traditional containers for these desert-dwelling plants are made of terra cotta or clay, although a glass terrarium-style planter or ceramic dish can also be used. We enjoy placing stones and pebbles of various sizes and colors on top of the ground. We also include wood, sand, and big rocks. Make sure you can still use a finger or a moisture meter to determine if the soil is dry or not.

Browse through our collection of cactus! We enjoy potting up lovely planters filled with varied succulent and cactus species and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual plant.

Don’t be reluctant to adopt some of these beautiful plants now that you are an authority on cactus maintenance! Have fun picking out your favorites and bringing new companions home to make your own lovely and joyful cactus gardens.