---
title: "Any idea on what's going on with this cactus? I water only when dry."
description: "Any idea on what's going on with this cactus? I water only when dry."
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/jKY4sIZVn9e5WmVSRWup9l"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "MummaDeb"
published: "2025-02-08T12:26:45.161663Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MOXcw7te6S9UHjaWvEfp257jXZmEcofyef83nx6UvFY/V5RpiYV4SWufbBPC5HOtbg.webp?size=large"
---

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

# Any idea on what's going on with this cactus? I water only when dry.

_Posted by MummaDeb on 2025-02-08_

Any idea on what's going on with this cactus? I water only when dry.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MOXcw7te6S9UHjaWvEfp257jXZmEcofyef83nx6UvFY/V5RpiYV4SWufbBPC5HOtbg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/MOXcw7te6S9UHjaWvEfp257jXZmEcofyef83nx6UvFY/O6hMBkl7R36eYo3NS4ce8w.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### Alyssa commented on 2025-02-08

Hmmm have you had any pests near it? Or any physical damage to it?

#### MummaDeb replied on 2025-02-08

Not that I'm aware of

### KJM commented on 2025-02-08

You might want to check in with the cactus and succulent group for more experienced advice. I have a couple cactus but I am certainly not familiar with this problem. It looks like it's beginning to rot on the top. I couldn't tell you why. There are some that would suggest cutting the discolored area off so the rot does not spread downward into the plant. I really don't know if that's a good piece of advice or not.

### KJM commented on 2025-02-08

I just did a little more research and it said rot can be caused by too high of humidity which leads to bacterial growth in the tissue.

#### MummaDeb replied on 2025-02-08

Thanks

### Wolfen 🐺 commented on 2025-02-08

You may want to check the roots for any rot. Is the media you used soil + perlite? It could have been staying wet to long

#### MummaDeb replied on 2025-02-08

Yep. Soil and lots of pearlite. Same thing I use in all of my succulents. It didn't stay wet for long. Strange.

#### Wolfen 🐺 replied on 2025-02-08

Hhmmm it could be just surface then? You could try to treat with a fungicide or peroxide

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