Spines falling off?!

Trouble shoot problems you are having with your cactus.
Post Reply
User avatar
larziepan
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 1:08 am
Location: Logan, Utah

Spines falling off?!

Post by larziepan »

Hello everyone! I have a slight problem. Last night as I was looking over my ferocactus for bugs, I've been fighting an infestation, and a chunk of spines fell off!
photo 1.JPG
photo 1.JPG (55.88 KiB) Viewed 1480 times
photo 2.JPG
photo 2.JPG (39.12 KiB) Viewed 1480 times
Is this something I should be worried about?
I have been using some IPA on it in my battle against the bugs. Could that be the cause?
(the pictures are, once again, wonky. I don't know how to work this picture thing)
User avatar
Rod Smith
Posts: 234
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:31 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by Rod Smith »

This shouldn't be a problem. Could be you caught the cluster of spines on something. Start to worry if more drop off.
Cactus enthusiast on and off since boyhood. I have a modest collection of cacti & succulents.
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by greenknight »

I agree. Alcohol couldn't cause that.
Spence :mrgreen:
iann
Posts: 17184
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: England

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by iann »

greenknight wrote:I agree. Alcohol couldn't cause that.
Depends just what you did with the alcohol #-o
--ian
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by greenknight »

iann wrote:
greenknight wrote:I agree. Alcohol couldn't cause that.
Depends just what you did with the alcohol #-o
:-k Maybe if you watered it with alcohol. I've never tried that. Wouldn't recommend it - might be fatal. Use it sparingly.
Spence :mrgreen:
User avatar
Rod Smith
Posts: 234
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:31 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by Rod Smith »

greenknight wrote:
iann wrote:
greenknight wrote:I agree. Alcohol couldn't cause that.
Depends just what you did with the alcohol #-o
:-k Maybe if you watered it with alcohol. I've never tried that. Wouldn't recommend it - might be fatal. Use it sparingly.
I think Ian might be suggesting a more personal use. :lol:
Cactus enthusiast on and off since boyhood. I have a modest collection of cacti & succulents.
iann
Posts: 17184
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: England

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by iann »

Yup, takes quite a bit of force to knock Ferocactus spines off, but if you're clumsy or drunk you can do it!
--ian
User avatar
larziepan
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 1:08 am
Location: Logan, Utah

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by larziepan »

I spritzed it with the alcohol. I'm pretty sure It just caught it wrong on the q-tip I was using to spot kill some bugs. My friend did knock it over a little bit, so that might have knocked it loose a little to start with. Everything looks good now.
Thanks guys!
iann
Posts: 17184
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: England

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by iann »

I have a couple of Ferocactus about six inches across. I can pick them up, pot and all, just using two spines. Catching a hook in my skin is very painful because my skin gives way before the spine does! I have managed to know one areole off the smaller Ferocactus though, must have caught it at just the right angle because I lived to tell the tale :)
--ian
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Spines falling off?!

Post by greenknight »

The juvenile spines are not quite as tough as the one on mature plants, Still not very easy to knock off.

If you've been drinking IPA, though, anything could happen :-&
Spence :mrgreen:
Post Reply