What To Do If My Cactus Is Squishy?

Cacti are low-maintenance and highly durable plants. They require low moisture, well-drained soil, and sun. In ideal conditions, some cactus plants can be cold-hardy in USDA 6 to 9 zones and others in USDA 4 zone.

However, cacti might start losing their color and become soft in some cases. If your cactus is squishy, you can treat the problem by identifying the cause. Here are some of the common reasons your cactus is squishy and ways to treat it:

Overwatering

The most common reason a cactus get squishy is that it has been overwatered. Cactus plants are desert plants that don’t need much water to grow and survive. The plant stores water in its stem and leaves, allowing them to survive longer, even during dry climates.

Overwatering could actually kill them as the plant is unable to absorb all the water. The excessive moisture causes the cacti to become squishy and soft.

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How to Resolve the Problem

Here are a few things you can do if you believe your cactus has become squishy because of overwatering:

Stop giving the plant any water until the soil feels completely dry. Be sure to wait at least two weeks to water the cactus again, as this will allow the plant to adjust and prepare itself to absorb the water again.
Place the cactus under direct sunlight to help the plant dry faster. Sunlight allows the water to evaporate quickly and should start regaining its color and texture.
You can also place the cactus in a well-ventilated spot near a door or window to help with the process.

Keep in mind that it might take longer for the plant to recover if the cactus has been overwatered too often. Give it a month or so to see if the plant heals, and start watering responsibly. If the cactus is still squishy, there could be some other problem.

Bacterial and Fungal Issues

Another reason your cactus plant becomes squishy could be bacterial and fungal issues. This happens if there is an open wound on the plant that gets infected. Moist and warm conditions accelerate fungal spores and bad bacteria production.

If the cactus becomes soft near the base stem and quickly starts spreading, it is a sign of bacterial and fungal problems. Other signs might include sunken spots, color turning black, and discolored scabs.

How to Resolve the Problem

The best way to treat a squishy cactus due to a fungal or bacterial problem is by treating it with a bactericide or fungicide. You can also use neem oil or any other organic fungicide. Here are a few other things you can do:

Remove any rotting or dead part of the cactus to prevent the spread of infection.
Clean the soil and pot. Use soap and hot water to wash the pot and boil the soil for 15 minutes to disinfect it. Let the soil and pot completely dry before using them.
Continue keeping the soil and pot clean, water wisely, and move it to a spot with less humidity and more sun.

These tips will help your cactus heal and recover from fungal or bacterial issues.

Injuries

Cacti can easily get injured, particularly if you are a pet owner. The pot getting knocked over could cause a nick on the plant, or it could get injured while you are repotting it. Even if the injury is minor, it could result in a lot of damage to the plant.

The injured areas of the plant work as openings to let pathogens enter the plant tissue, causing more damage and resulting in a squishy cactus.

How to Resolve the Problem

It may get too late to realize the cactus had an injury until it is too late. This can be prevented by weekly inspecting the plant to spot any damage to prevent it from getting squishy. Here are a few things you can do to treat a squishy cactus that suffered an injury:

Treat the plant immediately by rubbing a cleanser over the wound. If the wound isn’t infected, you can wash it with soap and water.
Use a fungicide if the wound has been infected to prevent bacterial problems.
Remove any dead parts or roots if the injury is severe.
Move the plant to a spot that is less humid and gets more sun.

The cactus would form a scab over the wound in a week, indicating the healing process has started. Make sure you avoid watering the cactus until it has healed.

Rotting Roots

If the overwatering issue isn’t resolved in time and the cactus sits in standing water for a longer time or if the soil stays wet for a longer time, it could cause root rot. This may eventually lead to a squishy cactus. Without treating the problem, your cactus could die.

Root rot in cacti occurs due to fungus that exists in wet conditions. This fungus attacks the roots of the cactus, initiating the rot. Once the roots start rotting, the plant is unable to absorb nutrients and water, eventually growing weak and squishy.

How to Resolve the Problem

Here is what you need to do if your cactus becomes squishy because of root rot:

Remove the cactus from the pot and remove all the roots that have rotted. Be sure to protect the healthy roots while you are doing this. The healthy roots will be firm and white, while the rotted roots will be slimy and brown.
You might also have to cut some stems of the cactus if it is too big before repotting. This is because a lot of roots have been cut off, and it could get difficult for the cactus to support all of the stems as before. You can use the division propagation method to create a new plant.
Replant the plant in fresh soil in a new pot. Water the cactus correctly and ensure it enjoys plenty of sunlight.
Keep monitoring the plant, as rot could have spread to other parts. Cut any rotted areas immediately to prevent the spread.
Always sanitize the knife or scissors you used to cut the rotted parts. Dip them in a mixture of water and bleach to ensure the rot doesn’t spread to other plants.

Your cactus could be able to heal and fully recover if you caught the rot early; otherwise, it might not be able to survive.

Wrapping Up

A squishy, soft cactus plant isn’t ideal and could be caused due to rotting, bacteria, poor drainage, injuries, and overwatering. The most common reason a cactus becomes squishy is that you might be overwatering the plant.

Ensure you take the right measures to treat overwatered cactus to see if your plant starts recovering before trying out the other solutions. In most cases, you would be able to restore the health of your cactus.