Hi there, just wondering if this is normal. I got 5 small cacti impulsively at the hardeware store today (who can resist when they all have flower buds waiting to open!) and was trying to remove the fake paper flowers a few minutes ago.
It wasn't my best work, I can usually just trim the glue off but there was just too much and 4 out of five plants had some spines pulled out. Not a big deal, I'll repot them all in the next couple days.
As I was about to leave I noticed a thick sticky white sap started coming from where the spines used to be on one of the plants.
I've never seen this before so wondering if it's anything I should be concerned about?
Sorry about the poor photo quality, none of them have been ID'd yet
Odd sap discharge from small cactus
- sadhbh-rua
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:39 pm
- Location: ireland
Odd sap discharge from small cactus
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Re: Odd sap discharge from small cactus
Some Mammillarias have milky sap, which seems to be all this is.
--ian
- sadhbh-rua
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:39 pm
- Location: ireland
Re: Odd sap discharge from small cactus
thank you, sorry if it was a silly question. ive had to take a few cuttings from damaged cacti ect before and all of them were very clear and watery inside so i was taken by surprise with this learn something new every day!
- greenknight
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- Location: SW Washington State zone 8b
Re: Odd sap discharge from small cactus
Be sure to mention the milky sap if you post pictures for ID - that narrows it down quite a bit.
Pretty nice plants for a hardware store, even if they did have fake flowers glued on.
Pretty nice plants for a hardware store, even if they did have fake flowers glued on.
Spence
Re: Odd sap discharge from small cactus
I agree with the fellows above: The milk-colored sap is the result of mechanical injury and some Mammillaria spp. "bleed" like that.
There is nothing to worry about.
Harald
There is nothing to worry about.
Harald