---
title: "Hello all! I've grown this huge cactus for many years, it's slowly…"
description: "Hello all! I've grown this huge cactus for many years, it's slowly but surely started to look rotten(?). Since getting this app, and it telling me that this…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/Vju0O9ho5mMXw0UJRvAA9i"
community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle"
author: "Katie"
published: "2024-12-28T13:57:34.666607Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Bwsnv2FG7i9dX0CPrJs8H2KmmU5WNxcwoQHVUS5W2xc/tRRVGtoeQ0uWGfTQkNbHWg.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hello all! I've grown this huge cactus for many years, it's slowly…

_Posted by Katie on 2024-12-28_

Hello all! I've grown this huge cactus for many years, it's slowly but surely started to look rotten(?). Since getting this app, and it telling me that this plant should have drainage holes (which it didn't for maybe 0 of those years!) I think I found the cause of the rotting, and have since repotted it. Is this cactus beyond saving? Is it time to propagate the new bobbly baby cacti growing on it? 😭🤞

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Bwsnv2FG7i9dX0CPrJs8H2KmmU5WNxcwoQHVUS5W2xc/tRRVGtoeQ0uWGfTQkNbHWg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Bwsnv2FG7i9dX0CPrJs8H2KmmU5WNxcwoQHVUS5W2xc/Xtu7Wm09RTWoxV8q6xip_g.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Bwsnv2FG7i9dX0CPrJs8H2KmmU5WNxcwoQHVUS5W2xc/RJEK8mZFR8uJNvqjvEwCVQ.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### Qixer commented on 2024-12-28

Appears to me as you have an infestation of Millie bugs.

#### Katie replied on 2024-12-28

BUGS?!?! 😵

#### Qixer replied on 2024-12-28

See the small white cotton looking dots? Those look like Mellie bugs. I could be wrong. I take a pair of tweezers and squeeze one. If it pops i know its bugs.

### Katie commented on 2024-12-28

Omg I thought the white was mould or fluff. I'll go and check now.

### Katie commented on 2024-12-28

I picked the white bits off with tweezers and it all just kinda broke apart like fluff. I shined a torch on it to see what I was doing and noticed blackness on the cactus too

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Bwsnv2FG7i9dX0CPrJs8H2KmmU5WNxcwoQHVUS5W2xc/GTc4LB1BQJSRXYrXCOHtNg.webp?size=large)

### Katie commented on 2024-12-28

So the entire plant just collapsed under its own weight while I was inspecting the fluff 😭

#### Dax replied on 2024-12-28

😖

### Redskid commented on 2024-12-29

I don't know anything about mealie bugs, so I'm not going to speak on that. But I think if you take one of those thicker, healthier looking bits, you may be able to chop and prop. If it's rot though, you want to make sure to cut all the rot off of your cutting. Then I'd let it callus for a few days before trying to propagate it. I'm not quite certain how to properly propagate after that. Maybe set it on top of the soil and wait until you see growth/roots to water? Idk, maybe check some YouTube tutorials. But I am fairly certain there are some parts of this cactus you could save if you want to put the work in. Good luck, sorry it collapsed on you, hope you weren't hurt!

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