You look at your cactus on the windowsill and notice white specks, fuzzy patches, or chalky blotches that were not there a few weeks ago. If you are wondering why does my cactus have white spots, the answer depends on whether the white rubs off, moves, or sits flat and dry on the skin. The … Read more >>
You notice the flat green segments on your Christmas cactus have gone thin, limp, and creased, like a balloon that lost half its air. The short version: Wrinkled segments mean the plant is losing more water than it can hold. Sometimes it simply needs a drink, but just as often the roots are damaged by … Read more >>
You lean in toward your windowsill cactus and notice soft white tufts tucked between the ribs, around the spines, or on the soil. If you are asking why does my cactus have white fuzz, the answer depends on where the fuzz sits and what happens when you touch it. The short version: White fuzz on … Read more >>
You notice dark, dotted, or blotchy patches on your cactus where the skin used to be an even, healthy green. The short version: Black spots on a cactus usually come from overwatering and rot, fungal or bacterial infection, pests and the sooty mold they leave behind, or damage from sun, cold, or chemicals. Soft, spreading, … Read more >>
Your cactus sits on a sunny windowsill, its ribs lined with neat clusters of spines that catch the light and snag your sleeve when you reach past it. The short version: A cactus has thorns, more accurately called spines, because they are modified leaves that protect the plant from animals, shade its skin, and slow … Read more >>
A dark patch has appeared near the base of your Peruvian apple cactus, and the once-green column on your windowsill now looks bruised, sooty or streaked with black. If you are asking why is my Peruvian apple cactus turning black, the cause is usually something you can identify by touch, location and timing. The short … Read more >>
You notice a few green segments or pads lying on the windowsill beside your cactus, and the plant suddenly looks thinner than it did last week. If you are wondering why cactus leaves fall off, the answer almost always comes down to water, light, temperature, or a recent change in the plant’s surroundings. The short … Read more >>
You look at your Christmas cactus on the windowsill and notice that its flat, segmented stems have taken on a purple or reddish-purple tint, often starting at the edges. If you are wondering why do Christmas cactus leaves turn purple, the color is almost always a stress signal rather than a disease. The short version: … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill with its segmented stems hanging flat and floppy instead of arching out with their usual firm, glossy spring. If you are wondering why the leaves on your Christmas cactus are limp, you are dealing with one of the most common complaints about this plant, and it is usually … Read more >>
The bloom you waited months for is turning soft, brown, or papery on your windowsill, and a few unopened buds may have dropped onto the sill below. Finding out why the flowers on your cactus are dying is usually simple, because most causes leave clear clues on the buds, the stems, and the soil. The … Read more >>