I have a leaf cactus 'Pereskia aculeata.It's a succulent and belongs to the cactaceae.family.

Anyway after a lot of rain i noticed the leaves started getting little dots all over them.This is an absolutely beautiful plant with edible leaves when cooked and fruit that makes great jelly,I've heard.I stopped removing the bad leaves when i realized everyday there were more & more leaves with the spots.The plant has thorns & leaving the leaves until i found out what was wrong was safer.

Any information or advice is greatly appreciated,I don't want to loose this lovely colorful plant.
here's the plant, it's so pretty

i tried to get good picture's of the problem on the leaves i hope if you click on them to blow them up it will be clear.






this last picture is the plant healthy or just before it's leaves caught whatever is wrong.

Hi Jojoe..reminds me of a cacti with similar leaves that I used to have before..I remember my plant then grew happily in a dappled light area but was killed only by being left outdoors during a wet winter. My plant did not get those blemishes, has always stayed green. Somehow the blemishes reminds me of my orchids when they get too much sun. But I could be wrong..or maybe it is just the natural senescence of the plant, and may still grow newer leaves as it drops the older ones. How does the stem of the cacti look like? Does it look mushy? If it is still firm and rigid, I am thinking it maybe just the plant shedding off older leaves..though a little alarming because of the rate it is doing it. Some succulents go dormant as summer comes in, while others go dormant in winter..

Just my thoughts...

The stems are fine.The spotted leaves seems to be the only problem.It was in active growth when it started,it was after a few days of rain i noticed it starting!!The leaves come in red then turn yellow then the two tone green.Beautiful colors.I wonder if i've had it in to much sun?Could that cause this ?yesterday i moved it out of direct sun.I thought it would be ok in the sun it's a cactus & succulent but the leaves are a little thinner than most succulent and plants in it's family.But it's got the thorns to prove it's in cactus family

I searched the name of your plant on the net and it is indeed a cacti, though a different kind shrub-like, spiny non-succulent stems and with large leaves. Apparently it goes deciduos during dry season, so it maybe just going into that phase..dropping its leaves.

I've no idea what is wrong with it but it sure is a beautiful plant. If it is a cactus, then I'd look first at too much water. Just a thought though.

Jonna,i had the same thought and have been careful to water only when the plant dries out some.

I am having some problems that i have been going to take to the (pest forum) with my azalea's they are all infested with something.Unfortunately I'm not up on plant bugs,fungus,mold or diseases. It maybe something caught from the azalea's .will post picture's of them in correct forum.

Tarev,I have had this plant more than a year and the only thing I've notice it do.Is when growing actively it gets so colorful,in the winter i bring it in and keep it watered just not as moist as in the summer, the only difference i see is in winter it's all green and even it's green is pretty.The outside of leaf is darker and middle is almost a neon (not as bright) but closest color that comes to me right now

jojoe said:Jonna,i had the same thought and have been careful to water only when the plant dries out some.

I am having some problems that i have been going to take to the (pest forum) with my azalea's they are all infested with something.Unfortunately I'm not up on plant bugs,fungus,mold or diseases. It maybe something caught from the azalea's .will post picture's of them in correct forum.

Tarev,I have had this plant more than a year and the only thing I've notice it do.Is when growing actively it gets so colorful,in the winter i bring it in and keep it watered just not as moist as in the summer, the only difference i see is in winter it's all green and even it's green is pretty.The outside of leaf is darker and middle is almost a neon (not as bright) but closest color that comes to me right now

As I have said earlier on, some plants are active in winter, like my aeonium, so colorful and undergoes lovely transition of leaf colors turning green to deep burgundy in winter, but as days go warmer up to summer, it changes back to very light green, dropping its leaves too, but it does not mean it is sick of anything, just going dormant. And if it is going dormant, really less water, otherwise there would be stem rot at the base..so with your plant similar thing, it is a cacti of a shrub type and has that characteristic too.

It's gorgeous, if we help you save it, I demand a cuttling (I'm kidding, but it is wonderful looking!)

I googled Pereskia aculeata culture and the Purdue link noted :

"Flourishing with little or no care, the plant is drought-tolerant and suffers from over-watering. In greenhouse experiments, it has been found highly responsive to light. Under high light intensity, it can be kept erect and compact; under low light, it grows higher, with ascending stems and the leaves are larger and thinner."

So, although it is a tropical plant, I gotta think it's the water, too.

Do you have it in sand or a cactus mix? Be sure it is nothing that holds too much water.

I never re-potted it,which i now think maybe i should have.It's an EA plant & you can probably figure it's in a peat type mix.The plant is just a bunch of cutting's in the pot.It's not root bound & i haven't ever had a reason to re-pot it.I have topped it when the soil level seems low.I keep my plants fed and add vitamins,minerals,hormones to keep the soil healthy.At least that's what i thought?

Sheryl, if it makes it you are absolutely welcome to cuttings,that's what makes plants so fun sharing them!!!

I went out and took pictures this morning and my computer took them off my camera and hid them from me!!! will get some more want you to see how fast these leaves are getting covered in these dots,they almost look a rusty color.

I wouldn't repot it now if it's stressed, just hold off on some of the water for a little while..... I know that's tough to do when you're hoping it's the one thing that will save it!

Jojoe, I have the same plant I actually have 2 deferent pereskia. It is a tough plant and I would go with Sheryl’s advice, but the fact it is sitting in a peat mix makes me uncomfortable.
I would try to put a finger under the soil and touch the root ball, try to feel if it firm and mushy

No peat!! I would take it out of its pot and plant in sand or cactus mix.

I will tell you how tough these are: we replanted one at the Botanical Garden where I work, it was a big plant and hard to handle (THORNS!) so they picked it up with a digger, drove it to its new location and basically half-buried it with a heap of sand. I was appalled and made lots of noises about it dying, but everyone assured me it would be fine and yes, it lost all its leaves and looked sick for about two weeks but now it's thriving and blooming...... so accept a little setback, but I bet that peat is keeping it soggy!

This has been the hardest time I've ever had trying to save this plant.I have never seen another one since i bought this one & it's so colorful i don't want to loose it.

I checked it today & if i with hold water any longer I'm going to kill it.The soil is so dry (completely through) it starting to drop leaves our temp's are in the 90's most days.The leaves are curling in and falling off just bumping the pot.Peat does hold a lot of water but in really hot weather it dries out fast & dries to bone dry.But i wonder if after it was out in those days of rain it didn't get some kind of fungus or disease that is using the fact that the plant is a succulent & is getting moisture from the leaves.They now feel thin and easy to bend etc.. Like there's no water in the leaves.

I am going to re-pot & bring inside for a period of R&R.
The last picture was what the soil looks like after 2 days of no water,bone dry,pulling away from the side of the pot.

Can anyone tell me what they think i should pot this in.Regular MG potting soil or a mix that has a lot of bark,rock, etc for very fast drainage.How much sun do you keep yours in (oh shoot who said they had 2 pereskia's) sorry Mocropot???

Don't panic too much with the loss of leaves. It is a plant's natural reaction to stress, and once restored to a beneficial environment they will quickly make new ones.
Fast draining mix is a must for this type of plant.

How goes it, Jelinda?

I think because of all the good advice & suggestions and information my leaf cactus will be just fine!!!!

Thank you all very much!!! It's re-potted,all leaves where removed (oh so painful to do that).My pot of sticks is getting new growth on it.So far so good,none of the leaves have a single spot.It has been put outside under some tree's not in the direct sun.It's recovering nicely.

Here she is

great!

I love a happy ending!