---
title: "My cactus is not doing too well and I'm curious if anyone has any…"
description: "My cactus is not doing too well and I'm curious if anyone has any advice on how to save it? It does have drainage and it's right in my window and gets plenty…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/ogAJsoDx1KA1WV9m4XqHDt"
community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle"
author: "Lily T."
published: "2024-12-30T16:26:47.850255Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SaU4gq4PGF0iKLef4gnp0C1z2reKzsu22zOVfLRzdRA/Xyi4xnXCSjK9vAhk8t_7ZQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# My cactus is not doing too well and I'm curious if anyone has any…

_Posted by Lily T. on 2024-12-30_

My cactus is not doing too well and I'm curious if anyone has any advice on how to save it? It does have drainage and it's right in my window and gets plenty of light.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SaU4gq4PGF0iKLef4gnp0C1z2reKzsu22zOVfLRzdRA/Xyi4xnXCSjK9vAhk8t_7ZQ.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Blooming Dawn commented on 2024-12-30

What's wrong with the cactus? Is its a pest or water problem?

### Claire5904 commented on 2024-12-30

It looks ok to me. It just looks like some of the soil around the plug it was planted in has eroded a little bit. Is it squishy or are you seeing something maybe I can’t see in the picture? If not I would just add a little cactus soil to the top to fill up the pot and as always with cacti be sure to not overwater. When you do water it again a nice fertilizer with calcium for succulents can help with growth also.

### pelšsy commented on 2024-12-30

does it have drainage?

### Lily T. commented on 2024-12-30

I'm not exactly sure what's wrong with it. It does have drainage but it was green and healthy-looking when I got it. I think it's dying because there's white stuff growing on it now (possibly mold??) and it's shrunk a lot

### Lily T. commented on 2024-12-30

It used to look like this. This is a different plant but the same kind

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/SaU4gq4PGF0iKLef4gnp0C1z2reKzsu22zOVfLRzdRA/p7Y11nEeQI6TlfbM2ad8Wg.webp?size=large)

### Dora commented on 2025-01-03

My little cactus also had white fluff on it. According to Google: The white substance on a cactus is likely cochineal scale insects, a type of mealybug, that produce a waxy coating to protect themselves from predators and insecticides. Recommendation: Mix alcohol and water in a bottle and spray it all around the cactus.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/UHLIegpeuExpY24CDy_-B6s-SvYQIviANFYNv3JSOFs/b5HFR_j6Q7SmkeSbq3-MuA.webp?size=large)

#### Lily T. replied on 2025-01-03

Thank you! I'll try that!

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