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Can my cactus be saved?
I'm a complete beginner to gardening so I thought I'd start with a plant that I couldn't ruin (or so I thought). The cactus started off healthy (see above) but after a while I suspected it wasn't getting enough sunlight in my apartment as it was getting taller but skinnier. So I bought an indoor lamp light for it and have been watering it consistently, once a month as I was told to when I bought it. However it has become progressively unhealthy, turning brown, misshapen, and mushy to the touch (see below). What can I do to save my beloved cacti? Is it a goner? Any and all advice are welcome.
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If it's mushy, it's probably too far gone. If you get a new one try a different soil mix. You want soil that is very fast draining and has no added fertilizers. Most hardware stores will have a palm/cactus premix.
Sounds like it is getting way too much water and probably not enough light.
Consider growing in a terra cotta or other unfinished clay pot that will dry out and put some rocks/gravel at the bottom to assist with drainage. The roots will not tolerate moist soil and rot easily, and are pretty susceptible to mold and fungus since there's little mold/fungus in it's natural habitat. Make sure that you're prickly little guy gets full sun and do not be afraid to let the soil dry out. Like, all the way. : )
Aloe is a good starter succulent because it will get you used to a cactus' watering cycle and will come back from the brink of death time and again. You can over water, under water, and even cut it's roots off and it usually always comes back once you fix the problem. I've had one growing outside in Phx in a bucket with drainage holes and no soil with only indirect sunlight for 2 years, they're that durable.
Sounds like it is getting way too much water and probably not enough light.
Consider growing in a terra cotta or other unfinished clay pot that will dry out and put some rocks/gravel at the bottom to assist with drainage. The roots will not tolerate moist soil and rot easily, and are pretty susceptible to mold and fungus since there's little mold/fungus in it's natural habitat. Make sure that you're prickly little guy gets full sun and do not be afraid to let the soil dry out. Like, all the way. : )
Aloe is a good starter succulent because it will get you used to a cactus' watering cycle and will come back from the brink of death time and again. You can over water, under water, and even cut it's roots off and it usually always comes back once you fix the problem. I've had one growing outside in Phx in a bucket with drainage holes and no soil with only indirect sunlight for 2 years, they're that durable.
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