Mammillaria bocasana FRED -- help!

[kal9988]

I received this Fred in the mail (bare root). It looked great, and then I put it in soil. It started getting these dry scales all around it. It's in a fast draining/high mineral soil. Water/light doesn't seem to help. Any ideas?

fred1.jpeg (81.54 KiB) Viewed 1485 times

Fred2.jpeg (91.92 KiB) Viewed 1485 times

[Benyellow]

It looks like sunburn, did you put it in strong sun immediately?

[kal9988]

Thanks! High to Moderate sun outdoors for about a week, but then I noticed the scaling. It's been indoors next to a window since and I haven't seen any changes.. Where should I keep it? Will the sunburn improve?

[george76904]

Is it hard scale? Because it kind of looks like it is scale insect damage.

[kal9988]

Yeah it feels hard. Don't feel that it's insect damage, pretty confident that sunburn is the answer. But -- where should I keep the plant now, and will the sunburn improve?

[george76904]

Out of direct sunlight for sure. We don't know your location (which it is advisable that all new members add to their profile) so it is hard to know what would be best for the plant from there. If you are in north america for example the plant is likely dormant and should be mostly left alone till spring.

[kal9988]

Los Angeles

[jmoney]

No, it will not recover from sunburn. The cactus itself will survive but it will be forever sunburned.

[greenknight]

It will be scarred, but it should become less noticeable with time.

[kal9988]

Thanks! I never realized the November sun (even here in Los Angeles) was too much!