Hi,
I am hoping someone can here can help me. I believe this plant is an Eve's Needle? I repotted it about 2 weeks ago as it was twice this size and outgrowing its pot. I used cactus soil. Was doing great, even had new shoots, until about a week later. then half the plant started rotting from the bottom up. When it was obvious I could not save this half I gently pulled them out. I believe it was 2 separate plants. Now the remaining plant and some of the shoots are starting to droop. Is this savable? If so what steps should I take?
Thank you for any advice you can give!
smile
mini

I don't know if it can be saved. Apart from the droop and rot you have observed, the cactus is not getting enough light to do well. I realize natural light is in short supply in the northlands this time of year, so there may not be an easy remedy for this. Short of setting up artificial light (not something I have any experience with, but we do have a sticky thread on the subject) I think this may be a lost cause.

The skinny, stretched, weak stems are the main reason I reached this conclusion. This cactus (like many others) demands a lot of light. You also need to dial back the watering at this time of year (potentially to zero, depending on light and temps) but I'm guessing that is more of a secondary factor in the outcome.

Watering immediately after repotting can lead to adverse consequences, as a side note. Not sure if that's what you did, but it's almost always better to wait a few days to a week first to allow the roots to heal if they were damaged in any way during that process. And in general repotting cacti at this time of year is often risky business in the northlands, better to wait until spring.

Hello @uneksia, if it were mine, I would just try to keep it dry and positioned at your warmest area with as much light access possible, ideally a south or west facing window. I would also add more pumice around the base of that plant.

Ideally, I would have delayed repot to Spring as well, and would have made sure the cacti media I use would have additional pumice in it, since this plant absolutely hates having too water retentive media and loves as much light and warmth it can get.

I still see a potential for recovery, so good luck, be very patient and resist the urge to water for now.

Thank you both for your answers. Yes, I know i should have waited til spring to repot. The person who gave it to me had it in a pot that the roots were coming out of the bottom so I went ahead and did it now. Bad choice!

@Baja_Costero, I do live in the northlands. The mountains of New Hampshire. I live fairly high up and the slider I have it at gets a good amount of sun (unless it is snowing) for about 6 hours a day during the winter. Not as strong as summer, but the rest of the cacti and succulents I have in that location do well. Perhaps it needs more light than the others? I do have an artificial light around here somewhere that was used in the past. I will try that. I did not water the plant til a week after repotting and did not plan on again til at least 6 weeks.

@tarev, I did get dirt with pumice, but i will definelty add more pumice around the base. When would you suggest I water again? I had 6 weeks in mind. Is that too soon?

Again, thank you both so very much! I find both advices very well given.

smile
uneksia