---
title: "Help! Our 11year old Christmas cactus has flies on it and is dropping…"
description: "Help! Our 11year old Christmas cactus has flies on it and is dropping branches everywhere please help"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/IC5kN5sKfv3pWOFYbZdHtP"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Roro"
published: "2025-10-19T16:09:52.421375Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T0bvEZIxTT3iMFHuN7IsQW4qkSKNX9VSyCIuCRqRP_c/89Am7PkJRDSTIHzIojhpng.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Help! Our 11year old Christmas cactus has flies on it and is dropping…

_Posted by Roro on 2025-10-19_

Help! Our 11year old Christmas cactus has flies on it and is dropping branches everywhere please help

![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T0bvEZIxTT3iMFHuN7IsQW4qkSKNX9VSyCIuCRqRP_c/89Am7PkJRDSTIHzIojhpng.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T0bvEZIxTT3iMFHuN7IsQW4qkSKNX9VSyCIuCRqRP_c/o9NJA4sGRHW9klDDQgEIVQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T0bvEZIxTT3iMFHuN7IsQW4qkSKNX9VSyCIuCRqRP_c/RRShsKlfQtum8kYkPKrRew.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T0bvEZIxTT3iMFHuN7IsQW4qkSKNX9VSyCIuCRqRP_c/WfU5KCwBRUa9spWqTdsfaA.webp?size=large)

## 6 comments

### Miranda commented on 2025-10-19

Went through this… are the woody branches getting super soft and “bleeding” red stuff? It’s a fungal infection from overwatering. You’re going to have to propagate the plant and start over!

### 9s commented on 2025-10-20

Hi,

Soil looks like it lost its porosity and so the cactus was struggling to drink water until the roots dried up and now it just can’t absorb the water. The gray coloration and wrinkles are a sign of under watering (and once the roots dried up, it rotted from sitting in the moist soil with nothing to drink it.)

Best bet is to dump the pot outside, use a strong hose and blast off any soil, and repot it. Don’t detangle the roots- just use water to push the soil off. It’s already stressed but it needs new soil that can actually feed it to recover.

### Chris commented on 2025-10-20

I have one of these plants. Right now the plant is wilting badly and the leaves are turning yellow. What can I do to fix this ?

### Granny commented on 2025-11-06

I’m new as well but the soil doesn’t look quite right.

### Granny commented on 2025-11-06

My plant is on the porch but about to be relocated indoors. The app says the temperature is too cool for it. The tips of my branches have turned a dark red color. Never seen this before. Anyone know why?

#### Michigan mommy replied on 2026-05-13

Could be sun burn.

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_