SAVING A DYING CACTUS

Most people who buy and tend cacti love them. When they get sick it’s upsetting as they’ve likely been around for years. Use these steps to help save a dying cactus at your home or business. Read on to learn more.

CUT ROTTING PARTS AWAY

Rotting is generally a sign of overwatering. The black or brown sections of the cactus must be cut away. Then you must decide if your soil is completely soaked and should be put in a new pot with new soil, or if you’ll be able to let it dry out and begin your new watering schedule again. If you decide to repot your cactus you should use mix one part peat, two parts garden soil, and two parts coarse sand.

ADJUST DAILY SUNLIGHT

Depending on the sunlight available your cactus may be getting too much or not enough sunlight. For cactus which are becoming more narrow or rounded more sunlight should be added. Either place the plant where it gets more hours of sunlight a day or choose to move it in the midday for best results.

ADJUST WATERING

For cacti that look wilted, are shrinking, or are wrinkled you should add water. It’s important to allow the soil to completely dry before watering, to avoid root rot. If your cactus is in a pot it should be one where excess water will drain easily.

Watering should be adjusted based on the temperature and season. During the hotter parts of the year you’ll want to water about 1 time per week indoors. During the cooler months of the year you’ll want to back that off and only water when the soil is dried out completely. For outdoors you’ll need to monitor the soil and water when it’s bone dry and there’s no rain in the forecast.

RINSE OFF DIRT & DUST

When the flesh of the cactus is covered with dirt or dust it cannot process the light properly. You can use a soft sponge or rag to rinse off this residue. You can wipe it down with a sponge soaked in water and a drop of dish soap or you may choose to rinse off your cactus under the faucet in the sink. For outdoors you can use a house to gently rinse off your cactus.

CONTROL PESTS & INSECTS

Another cactus killer is pests and insects. They’ll cause yellowing sections on your cactus and make it sick. To common insects that are harmful to cacti are the spider mites and mealybugs. You can purchase solutions from your local nursery for spider mites and use rubbing alcohol to kill mealybugs. Spider mites are tiny red spiders that have webs that are like sheets. Mealybugs appear in powdery white clusters.

USE LOW NITROGEN FERTILIZER

Use some fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season which usually starts around March. Fertilizer is mixed and packaged in different ratios. The ratio that is best for cacti is one where the nitrogen is rated at 10. This means a common solution is a 10 (N) – 30 (P) – 20 (K). Avoid excessive nitrogen as it will cause stunted growth and a texture that’s flabby.

HOW TO TREAT CACTUS ROT

Cactus rot is caused by overwatering. While owners might feel like frequent tending is how you care for plants, the cactus doesn’t need as much attention. Most cactus that turn brown and black to eventually die have been overwatered by accident by their owners.

LET THEM GET DRY

While most plants get sickly if they aren’t watered often the cactus is a plant that needs to dry out as part of it’s plant cycle. The roots of the cactus are accustomed to having very little water in nature and will rot if you water them as much as you do your tomatoes.

WATCH FOR MUSHY SECTIONS & DISCOLORATION

It’s incredibly important to watch for your cactus to get mushy or start turning brown and or black. These are signs that overwatering has occurred. The roots are probably already dead and rotting. Simply do not ever overwater. Pay attention to your cactus soil and only water when it’s completely dried out. It may seem neglectful, but that’s the natural environment the cactus is used to.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE FOUND CACTUS ROT

It is time to trim them off with a sharp knife and repot or replant your cactus. Make sure you use a good mixture of garden soil (2 parts), coarse sand (2 parts) and peat soil (1 part). It’s also important to choose a pot that’s a little oversized and has good drainage holes. If you’re growing cactus outside make sure the soil you’re planting in is good draining soil with a portion of sand to help facilitate this affect.

SAGUARO CACTUS PROTECTION LAWS

The symbol of Arizona is the saguaro cactus. These are the tall and skinny cactuses that you may think of, when you think of the word “cactus”.

Go on the hiking trails in Arizona, and you begin to realize that they have a personality of their own. They begin to feel like familiar friends accompanying you along your hiking adventure. Native American mythology have numerous stories of how the saguaro cactus came to be and it typically involves people transforming into the saguaros. There is something magical and special about these cactuses that you can’t deny. While not endangered these cactuses only grow in the Sonoran desert, adding to the uniqueness of this cactus.

Sadly, from real estate to vandalism, humans pose the biggest threat to the saguaros. For this reason, there are laws protecting them. They are protected under the Native Plant Protection Act. If a person is caught cutting down a saguaro it is actually considered a felony criminal damage charge that can result in 25 years in prison. Any other type of vandalism, theft and attempts to transplant the cactus will also result in pricey fees and jail time. In order to legally remove and transplant one elsewhere, the land owner’s permission and a permit is required. In other areas such as any National Park Land, a saguaro cannot be removed. The saguaro cactus is more than just a symbol of the West, it’s the complete heart of the Sonoran Desert. Not to mention, the inside of a saguaro also provides shelter and the desert wildlife depends on this cactus for survival.

Source: https://hikephoenix.net/2018/08/28/laws-protecting-saguaro-cactuses/

CACTUS TURNING YELLOW

Cacti can start to turn yellow when they have too much sunlight. Some cacti love light but with growing cacti it is vital to spot when they may be too exposed. Read on to learn more.

EXCESS LIGHT

The amount of light your cactus needs depends on the kind of cactus you have. However, you can judge the light it needs by monitoring it for discoloration. Cacti turning orange or yellow have had too much light exposure. If a cactus is moved from moderate light to intense light, it may get scorched by the sun. A scorched cactus produces a discolored ring around the top, that will become permanent.

POSITION OF CACTUS

Cacti need full sunlight to grow for at least six to eight hours on a daily basis. Typically, the southern aspects of a garden will obtain sufficient light to support a cactus. If you are bringing your cactus outside from overwintering indoors, place the cactus in a low light area for a few days. Gradually, increase the light every few days for your cactus. This will give the cactus the best chance of adapting successfully to its new environment, Obviously, cacti that become discolored need to be located into an area where the light levels are lower.

INDOORS

Cacti located in windows yellow discoloration particularly when they are south facing. Place a net style curtain over the window and observe the plant for any discoloration. The cactus can also be positioned further away from the window if it looks discolored at all. The amount of sun needed does depend to some extent on the individual plant, so it may be necessary to experiment to find the ideal combination.

NOT ENOUGH LIGHT

When choosing the best area for your cactus, it is important to recognize signs that your cactus isn’t receiving enough light. Cacti that grow towards light sources need to be moved closer to the light. If the stem of your cactus is actually reaching out for the window, gradually bring the cactus closer. To restore the shape of the cactus, rotate the plant every week so that it receives light from all sides of the plant.

HOW MUCH DOES CACTUS REMOVAL COST?

The average cactus removal cost is $1,400 with the average cactus removal cost ranging from $300 to $2,500 in 2020. Your estimated cactus removal cost will depend on the size of the cactus, it’s accessibility, and what is surrounding it. These aren’t actual cactus removal costs. To get a real estimate we’ll have to send out one of our professionals to visit your property, assess the cactus, and provide you a genuine estimate.

UNDERSTANDING CACTUS REMOVAL COSTS

Find out more about your cactus removal costs by giving us a call today! The bigger the cactus will increase the cost of removal. Saguaro cactus removal costs can be the most expensive because of their large size. Additionally, costs depend on the number of arms the cactus has as well. We can schedule a visit at your property so we can do an assessment on the cactus and provide you with a better quote on the cost for its removal.

Cactus come in every shape and size but share one thing: they are dangerous and hard to remove. Our Phoenix-area cactus removal professionals utilize specialized tools and skillfully trained employees to correctly remove the cactus on your property. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tall, slanted Saguaro or a patch of prickly pear cacti, we can remove them. We have been providing cactus removal service in Phoenix for over twenty years, and our experience shows it. You can trust our cactus removal professionals.

NO PRESSURE!

Our Phoenix cactus removal professionals will not try and sell you a cactus service you don’t need. Because of honest professionals in the cactus industry, we will tell you right away whether our assessment is good or bad as to whether your cactus can survive being trimmed or removed.

HIRE PROFESSIONALS TO REMOVE YOUR CACTUS

When you are shopping around to have your cactus removed without jeopardizing you or your family’s safety, give us a call! Want to keep clear from hazardous cactus thorns covered with the disease that is the cause of Bacterial Necrosis? Yes. Do you want to attempt to remove your Saguaro cactus by yourself? No. A cactus thorns ruin shoes, carpets and home, and can be harmful to children and pets; have our professionals remove the cactus giving you problems. And don’t forget, our estimates are free!

We are more than happy to provide you a free estimate. In some cases, we are able to offer same day estimates and are priced highly competitively.