I got this cactus a few months ago and it seemed to be doing well- it sprouted up to how tall it is now. . Is it normal for cactus to kind of shrivel this way? I'm not sure what the issue could be. Too much/not enough sun/water? Should I re-pot it or would that put him into transplant shock? Any ideas on what I did wrong or how to save this little guy? Thank you..!

to NGA

My thought is not enough light. You can't shock a succulent - you could dump it out of the pot and leave it sitting for a week without seeing any ill effects. If you decide to re-pot, go smaller. That's a pretty large pot for such a small baby. Maybe less water too. But definately more light. Your plant should be flat (not tall) and bigger around.

Daisy

Ah- thank you! I'll try to place it closer to the window and see if there's any improvement. Should I prune the shriveled leaves or is there a chance they'll get healthy and spruce up?

Succulents can be temperamental growing indoors. Give it as much light as you can while protecting from blazing afternoon sun. Those leaves well not recover, you can remove or let them fall off on there own. Go light on water.

I would do as Daisy suggested, repot to smaller container. Will give you a chance to check condition of roots too. Add more pumice to your media to make it well draining. With some succulents, they will naturally drop lower and older leaves, as what your plant is doing. I would not panic much as long as I see the tip end is continuing on growing new leaves/rosettes to replace it. What will make me worry is if the base of the stem looks mushy and rotten, it will mean your plant is getting overwatered. Then you will have to cut off the rotten part, allow it to callus and heal.

Part shade with good light will be ideal till it roots again properly, if in case you have to cut it down and replant.

btw that is not a cactus it is a succulent.. just to be clear,

everyone else is right it is either overwatered or undersun'd ... it needs to dry out between waterings. that is more inportant then watering amounts.