Hello All,
I'm currently in panic mode as I've realized that I may be killing my 1st cactus already...such a shameful thing to admit but I have no idea what I'm doing.
I purchased this Tacinga Inamoreana from Cactus Martin in the Marengo Valley at the end of January. They had just gotten it in the shop the day before and it was fully watered and the shop keep advised me to not to water for 4-6 weeks. So I brought it home to Reno, NV and it lives on my dinning room table with South facing sun. I have not watered it yet but realized that there is white stuff growing on it and the base is turning brown. Should I water it? Are the roots rotten from it being fully watered at the shop? Not enough sun, too much? Or am I freaking out for no reason and it's ok. Your advice is much appreciated!
Thanks

AND another Reno gardener!

I'm not familiar with this particular cactus but I did a little reading about it.

Are the brown areas as the base of the main stem new? Are they soft when you push your finger against them? If not, it could be the beginning of the aging process of cactus calling corking.

Your soil looks like the right stuff but I suspect two things:

Some of the damage looks mechanical - the cactus got bumped or poked or dropped and what you are seeing is scarring.

The white crescent shaped areas at the tops of the pads look like sunburn. If you placed it directly in the south window, that may have been too sudden a move to bright light. It was living in a greenhouse and then lived in a dark box for a period of time.

If you stick your fingers into the soil and can't feel moisture, it is time to water. Don't let it sit in water though.

It does look like it is just corking. If it were mine, I would just keep it dry for now.
As long as that brown coloring stays firm, does not sag or turn black and oozy, just let the plant be as it continues to adjust in your location.

Here is a nice link that talks about corking in cacti and succulents: http://www.desertplantsofavalo...

Dont water it. It will start to shrivel when it needs water, maybe longer than the 6 weeks, if cold weather.
Good sun ? Thats good. Base turning brown. Thats ageing.
If base is mushey. Thats rot. You'll have to cut off all rot off. It will re-root. Check back, if you need to re-root.
Does the white stuff rub off ?
It maybe bugs. Take a cotton swab with alcohol and wipe. It will kill/get rid of them.
Please re-pot it to a well draining soil. Nurseries don't.
I use equal parts of course potting soil to washed sand/aquarium gravel.
She'll be ok !😇😇😇!

😎😎😎

I askd about scales on my 4 yr old cacti mayby photoes may help

We moved your question to its own conversation. It causes a lot of confusion to post in someone elses convo.

The thread "cacti have raised scales" in Ask a Question forum

Without photos, we can't help you. Follow the link above and add photos. We will see what we can do to help you with your cactus.