Opuntia microdasys shriveling

[J-M]

Hello,

I have an Opuntia Microdasys that has seen better days. In the last 2 weeks it grew a nice pad really quiclky and then all of a sudden it stopped and instead of standing tall and proud like it used to, it is now ''soft'' and started to shrivel. FYI I watered it 2 times in the last month.

As winter approaches, is it normal for an opuntia to do this or should I be worried (cause I am right now haha ...)

I bought it 6 weeks ago and repoted it right away, I remember having a hard time with the compacted peat, I removed most of it but left a clump where the pad and the roots meet. Should I unpot it to finish the job or not ?

[greenknight]

Shouldn't be shriveling that fast. After a couple months of dormancy that would be normal, but not now. Unpot it and check for root rot.

[J-M]

Ok I found what looks like white mold on a few spots on the roots. I am not sure if it is rootrot or mealy bugs(I did not see any bugs) I think I will just throw away this one ...

Is there something to do with the pads at this time of the year ? If it is too late in the season, is there a way to somehow keep them ''alive'' until next spring to pot them ?

Thanks

[jmoney]

Don't throw it away! If you want to ditch the plant and start over, cut of the pads at the joints and try to root them!

[J-M]

Don't worry that is exactly what I did ... Now I just hope they will make it through winter !

Thanks for the tip

[jmoney]

Also don't over water the cuttings. They can rot easily since they don't have functioning roots to 'drink' the water.

[greenknight]

Don't water at all until they have roots. You could mist them to help keep them from shrivelling any more.