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 >>
You glance at the Christmas cactus on your windowsill and notice the flat green segments have taken on a rosy, pinkish blush along the edges. If you are asking why are my christmas cactus leaves turning pink, the plant is almost always telling you it feels stressed, and the stress is usually easy to find. … Read more >>
You press a segment on your Christmas cactus by the window and it gives under your finger like a deflated balloon instead of feeling firm and plump. If you are wondering why are my christmas cactus leaves soft, the answer usually starts at the roots, not the leaves. The short version: Soft Christmas cactus leaves … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill, but the flat green segments have taken on a reddish blush along the edges, or the whole plant looks bronzed. If you are wondering why Christmas cactus leaves are turning red, the color is a signal worth reading carefully. The short version: Red segments are almost always a … Read more >>
Your cactus leans away from its pot, the top looks wider or heavier than the base, and the whole plant wobbles when you brush past the windowsill. If you’re wondering why your cactus is getting top heavy, the cause is almost always something you can see and correct indoors. The short version: Most top heavy … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits on the windowsill with its last faded blooms, roots poking out of the drainage hole and the soil drying faster than it used to. The short version: The best time for when to transplant Christmas cactus is in late winter to spring, roughly 4 to 8 weeks after it finishes blooming. … Read more >>