cactus seems sick, can anyone advise please?
 

Hi, I rescued this one from the point of death about 2 years ago - it
had been sitting in an empty room and hadn't been watered for about 18
months.

It's been doing really well but this year the new growth has gone a bit,
well, brown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474587/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474589/

Can anyone provide any assistance please?

Thanks,

Craven.

cactus seems sick, can anyone advise please?
 

On 08/10/2010 10:10, Craven wrote:
Hi, I rescued this one from the point of death about 2 years ago - it
had been sitting in an empty room and hadn't been watered for about 18
months.

It's been doing really well but this year the new growth has gone a bit,
well, brown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474587/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474589/

Can anyone provide any assistance please?

First off they are not cacti, they are Euphorbias with irritant milky
caustic sap so be careful if you take cuttings. People who grow the most
dangerous ones also grow Aeonium Lindleyii which is alleged to be a
useful antidote to euphorbia sap. Some of the desert species are a lot
more chemical warfare inclined than their temperate cousins.

I think this website over eggs the threat somewhat, but the message is
that you really do not want to get the sap in your eyes or on any other
sensitive parts of your anatomy (including skin).

OTOH it does make them largely immune to most pests and diseases.

I suspect it is corking due to sudden exposure to strong sunlight
scorching the growing tip - a natural response to damage. It should not
harm the plant though may be unsightly.

Regards,
Martin Brown

cactus seems sick, can anyone advise please?
 

On 08/10/2010 11:39, Martin Brown wrote:
On 08/10/2010 10:10, Craven wrote:
Hi, I rescued this one from the point of death about 2 years ago - it
had been sitting in an empty room and hadn't been watered for about 18
months.

It's been doing really well but this year the new growth has gone a bit,
well, brown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474587/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474589/

Can anyone provide any assistance please?

First off they are not cacti, they are Euphorbias with irritant milky
caustic sap so be careful if you take cuttings. People who grow the most
dangerous ones also grow Aeonium Lindleyii which is alleged to be a
useful antidote to euphorbia sap. Some of the desert species are a lot
more chemical warfare inclined than their temperate cousins.

I think this website over eggs the threat somewhat, but the message is
that you really do not want to get the sap in your eyes or on any other
sensitive parts of your anatomy (including skin).

OTOH it does make them largely immune to most pests and diseases.

I suspect it is corking due to sudden exposure to strong sunlight
scorching the growing tip - a natural response to damage. It should not
harm the plant though may be unsightly.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Great, thanks for your advice. It was kept in a very dark corner over
winter, so sun damage could have happened.

Thanks a lot,

Craven.

cactus seems sick, can anyone advise please?
 

On 17/10/2010 16:39, Craven wrote:
On 08/10/2010 11:39, Martin Brown wrote:
On 08/10/2010 10:10, Craven wrote:
Hi, I rescued this one from the point of death about 2 years ago - it
had been sitting in an empty room and hadn't been watered for about 18
months.

It's been doing really well but this year the new growth has gone a bit,
well, brown.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474587/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50869488@N03/5061474589/

Can anyone provide any assistance please?

First off they are not cacti, they are Euphorbias with irritant milky
caustic sap so be careful if you take cuttings. People who grow the most
dangerous ones also grow Aeonium Lindleyii which is alleged to be a
useful antidote to euphorbia sap. Some of the desert species are a lot
more chemical warfare inclined than their temperate cousins.

I think this website over eggs the threat somewhat, but the message is
that you really do not want to get the sap in your eyes or on any other
sensitive parts of your anatomy (including skin).

OTOH it does make them largely immune to most pests and diseases.

I suspect it is corking due to sudden exposure to strong sunlight
scorching the growing tip - a natural response to damage. It should not
harm the plant though may be unsightly.

Great, thanks for your advice. It was kept in a very dark corner over
winter, so sun damage could have happened.

I know this may sound a little odd, but cacti and succulents under glass
are vulnerable to sun scorch in the early spring sunshine after our
rather dark winters. From what I could see of your photos the damage was
typical of burn. Ageing of the skin tends to go up from the base - and
is also rather common. There is also a disease of succulent Euphorbias
that tends to afflict the globular ones causing browning.

Start a new plant blemish free from a cutting. You may need to drip
water on it to staunch the bleeding and do take care (and wear eye
protection). Certain of the nastiest succulent euphorbias have internal
sap pressure sufficient to jet thin fibres of caustic sap nearly a metre
into the air. E. Virosa is notorious for it. I have grown that one and
it is ornamental in cultivation but tricky to handle safely. The sap may
cause blindness and is very bad on the skin.

Regards,
Martin Brown