Why are my cactus needles turning brown and how do I fix it? – A PUZZLE

People often say that if you’re a known plant killer, you should consider planting cacti.

After all, these plants are hardy and, for the most part, hardly need any attention.

As such, I assume all would be well and the plants would thrive after potting, placed in bright light and watered occasionally.

Unfortunately, while this may be enough, it’s also possible to give plants too much or too little love, causing them to turn brown.

Fortunately, this is a common problem that many gardeners have faced, and plants are very unlikely to die if you act quickly.

This article explores why clouding occurs and how to treat cactus needle clouding.

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Contents

Why are my cactus needles turning brown?

A cactus in a blue well.Cacti can take on different colors depending on the underlying issues. Did you know they can also turn purple?

But in this case, we will focus on cactus needles turning brown and reasonable causes of these changes.

Often, darkening of cactus needles is linked to too much sun exposure, root rot and pests.

We’ll look at these and other options so you can identify and deal with the culprit.

rotten root

It is very easy to get caught in a watering rut and water the plant much more than it needs.

Although you may consider it love, it could choke the roots of the plant, preventing the roots from absorbing nutrients.

Eventually, root damage begins and the roots become damp, making them less able to support plant growth.

You might not notice it at first. But once it begins to spread, the stem begins to soften and turn yellow and the base of the plant begins to turn brown.

If you don’t fix the problem quickly, the plant may die.

Unlike overwatering, root rot can occur when potting soil does not drain well, causing it to retain more water than it should.

Although you have staggered your watering, the soil can work against you by continually retaining water from previous schedules.

Also, the pot may be to blame. You may not have drilled enough holes in the bottom to provide adequate drainage, or objects may be blocking the drainage holes.

Learn more about root rot

Root rot is a difficult problem to treat, as signs begin to appear when the rot has damaged a significant portion of the root.

You’ll want to start examining the root as soon as you grab the base of the golden cactus.

If there appears to be damage, root rot is the cause of the browning. Root rot can be very advanced or minimal.

Cut the damaged areas with a clean, sharp knife and apply powdered sulfur to the wounds to help the plant heal.

Prepare new potting soil and replant the cactus. In most cases, the plant will thrive again, leaving you with a healthy plant.

But if the root rot has progressed and there is still a small healthy portion left, you may want to consider growing another cactus.

To avoid root rot, make sure you don’t overwater the plant and have a well-aerated, well-drained potting mix.

Also check the drainage regularly and make sure excess water can drain out of the pot.

If you like this article, check out our article on How to propagate a Christmas cactus.

sun damage

A small green cactusMost people would never imagine that exposure to the sun could harm their cacti. After all, these plants thrive in semi-arid and arid regions where the sun is relentless.

However, there are different types of cacti, and the one you have at home may be very different from the one growing in the desert.

Yours may do best in partial shade with controlled exposure to bright light.

If you buy your cactus from a store or nursery, it is often recommended to keep it in the shade and slowly expose it to the sun.

Most people think their plants can handle the scorching sun right out of the nursery and place the plants in windows with the most sunlight.

If you notice that the browning has started at the top and is slowly moving to other parts of the plant, the sun is the most likely culprit if it attacks from above.

The tan begins slowly and where damage is minimal, it will appear as a whitish tint on the side facing the sun.

The longer the plant stays in the sun, the longer the burn will continue and the white spots will eventually turn into brown scars, which are not reversible.

It is better to prevent damage from the start. Luckily, if you notice the white spots early enough, you can save the plant and avoid ruining its appearance forever.

How? You should move the plant to a partially shaded area. Even using sheers in a well-lit window can help.

It also helps to understand what species you have in your home and read under which circumstances you prefer the most.

This way you can match requirements to needs instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach and the plant will recover.

Get your cacti here!

heat damage

When plants are outdoors, they have to deal with outside elements, such as animal attack, frost, and exposure to sunlight.

As such, you’d think they’re safer indoors where you have control over the environment, but not that much.

The truth is, a houseplant is always susceptible to what’s outside and attacks from inside as well, and it comes from the most unlikely culprits like your vents!

You may think that placing the cactus near the air vent will allow it to thrive, as cacti do well in warm areas.

But that’s the problem. In their natural habitat, plants live in hot, dry areas where warm air does not reach them directly.

With this continuous flow of dry air, it is easy for the plant to dry out, and even the waxy surface cannot protect it from this sad fate.

Please note that this also applies to vents. Keeping your plant cool during the summer can damage it and it will take you a long time to notice the changes.

Also, leaving the plant near a window can be the culprit when hot air and cold drafts continually enter the room.

How can you know that internal conditions are the cause? The tan will be on one side!

Instead of the whole plant becoming brittle and brown, only the side near the vent shows signs.

In this case, do not worry, the solution is quite simple: move the plant to a place where it will not come into contact with this draft!

extremely low temperatures

The sun is harmful to your plant, as is frost.

In areas with freezing winter seasons, you may want to protect your plant by placing it away from the window and controlling the temperature in the house.

Otherwise, when the cold reaches the plant tissues, the cells begin to rejoice. As the plant tries to heal, it forms calluses that turn brown and are quite unsightly.

Once you notice such changes, it may be a good idea to move the plant to a sheltered area of ​​the house.

Remember that damage can be caused by plants coming into contact with windows or other cold surfaces in the house.

tartar contamination

Have you heard of Balance† When you see brown spots on your plant, it’s often a reminder that you’re dealing with scale.

They are small, hard-shelled insects that feed on cactus juice and eventually weaken the plants.

The affected parts will appear yellowish or brownish and if you don’t treat the pests quickly they will attack more parts of the plant.

If you notice such a tendency in your plant, you can fight pests with natural or chemical means.

You can save money and protect the environment and your home by washing the scale with a mixture of detergent and water.

Alternatively, you can kill the insects by cleaning them with horticultural oil, which cuts off the oxygen supply and kills them.

However, if you have a lot of plants in your home and the infestation is getting out of hand, you can always use an insecticide.

mite infestation

a small cactusIn addition to sun damage, mite infestation also manifests as a darkening that begins at the top.

These mites prefer to feed on new growth, which occurs on top, leaving rusty brown spots in the process.

Unfortunately, these parasites are so small that they are barely visible to the naked eye. It is better to beware of such spots and the presence of cobwebs on the plant.

Keep in mind that even though these pests are small, they are quite destructive and can kill your plant by damaging its outer tissues.

Act quickly and consider your options, from homemade insecticides to industrial pest-based chemicals.

In general, to protect cactus needles from blackening and maybe dieProvide an ideal growth environment and control any drastic changes.

If you liked it, take a look at our The 10 best indoor plants for soil.

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