---
title: "Looking for help please and thank you! My fishbone cactus has a…"
description: "Looking for help please and thank you! My fishbone cactus has a strand that is turning brown. The top soil 2” down is dry, soil inside the drainage hole on the…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/-Co5kEydSfaBV50WH_GwxQ"
community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle"
author: "Elmyra Duff"
published: "2024-08-26T13:56:03.23788Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/YI3FfbqOxHxhsjGyuNmWxjezB8Jb0Esv16h5gF2n8KM/YUz8PK9VSbq2LWzNbVKAhA.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md)

# Looking for help please and thank you! My fishbone cactus has a…

_Posted by Elmyra Duff on 2024-08-26_

Looking for help please and thank you!

My fishbone cactus has a strand that is turning brown.

The top soil 2” down is dry, soil inside the drainage hole on the bottom is damp.

The plant doctor said it’s overwatered so I’m going to let it dry out a bit.

Should I leave that strand alone or should I cut it off and possibly propagate it? There are 3 little babies on the end so I would like to save them somehow if possible.

What’s the best way to propagate it? This is the first succulent I haven’t killed (yet).

TIA

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/YI3FfbqOxHxhsjGyuNmWxjezB8Jb0Esv16h5gF2n8KM/YUz8PK9VSbq2LWzNbVKAhA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/YI3FfbqOxHxhsjGyuNmWxjezB8Jb0Esv16h5gF2n8KM/80AbQ4s2Q7WI7WQppsmEOQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/YI3FfbqOxHxhsjGyuNmWxjezB8Jb0Esv16h5gF2n8KM/g9wbc8VMRXelvQq9Y2Bx3g.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### eatyacarbs commented on 2024-08-26

cut it off with a clean blade. you don’t want to propagate a sick leaf, so just toss it. let this dry out COMPLETELY before watering again — underwatering is always better than over.

if you see more of this happening, you’ll need to pull this out of the pot and check the roots for rot. in the meantime put down the watering can and wait 😂

#### Elmyra Duff replied on 2024-08-26

Thank you! My plant thanks you too 🪴

### Rosie commented on 2024-08-26

Cut it off as it’s rotten and check the roots for rot. You don’t want it spreading to the rest of the plant. You should wait until every inch of soil is dry to water it - most people wait 7 days after they think it’s all dry to water or look for physical signs that it’s dehydrated

#### Elmyra Duff replied on 2024-08-26

Thank you 🪴

---

_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_