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Can this even be saved? I got this plant for free off FB along with… | Anything about plants | Planta community

iris

Can this even be saved? I got this plant for free off FB along with few others because she couldn’t care for it anymore i suppose. Before pickup she told me it needs some TLC, it’s a sharktooth cactus, and it’s been underwatered. I picked it up and saw some sorts of webbing on it. I wasn’t sure if it was spiderwebs from being outside or spider mites, so I treated it like the latter, gave it a good rinsing down and sprayed it with neem oil. it’s quarantined now. the other ones too, but in a different spot since they had no trace of any pests but i treated them to be safe and they are also quarantined. I trimmed back a LOT of dead leaves. Pics are the webs + before, and then what I managed to salvage. Is it worth it? It’s a beautiful plant with new growth despite all the mess. advice on moving forward? the stem in the middle is still tall and beautiful, others seem to be struggling. Thanks!

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5 comments

  1. Amy

    Sounds like you’re off to a great start. Webs plus the transition may have stressed it a bit but there’s still tons of green! Maybe give the floppy ones some support and let it adjust. I say I’ll try to until I absolutely can’t anymore :)

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    • iris

      Thank you! How would you recommend I give those leaves support? Sorry, I’m a fairly new plant mom!

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    • Amy

      Similar to the chopsticks suggestion, another affordable alternative that I use are actually the wooden s’more wood sticks from the grocery store. They come in a large pack. Then I like the no choke string also if you need to tie them to the support

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  2. Nunyabzwx

    If you have some chop sticks you can stick them in the soil and lean the floppy part on the chopstick or tie the floppy part on to the chopstick. Does that make since? And since its been outside i would think the webs are from the spiders and not spidermites. But good that you treated it anyways..

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    • iris

      Yes, thank you!!

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