NOO! more black spots!

[ThePackrat]

Now I am really bummed out! I noticed black spots on one of my other cacti today, I think it is a Trichocereus hybrid. The spots were softish and oozing a tar like substance. I immediately went to work with the knife and chopped off all the offending areas (their heads)..

And while I was at it I decided to dig them out of the pot and discovered they were all rooted cuttings.. kinda dissapointing, but now I have 4 small ones instead of one large cluster. The surfaces where I cut started turning reddish-brown almost immideately, and this does worry me a little bit.

I've had way too much bad luck with my cacti lately! Maybe I'm not meant to have cacti

[daiv]

That doesn't sound good. The reddish brown usually means that the rot will continue.

Don't give up! After these experiences, you are now that much more experienced at growing! I'd say we learn more from our failures in this hobby!

[Charles]

I mix sulfer (sulpher) dust in my potting soil. It seems to work most of the time.

[Cactus Charlie]

I have read that this is common in trichocereus when they are over watered and/or watered when its not warm enough. Dont water them for a while, and when you do, try to do it when its warmer. Also, although trichos can take more water than most other cacti, dont completely drown them!
Charlie

[promethean_spark]

I've never seen anything like that on my trichos, and some sit out in the rain all winter.

Some other cacti get spots like that, I don't know what causes it though. Astrophytum myriostigma and myrtilocactus seem particularly susceptible. It doesn't seem to particularly hurt the plants, just make them ugly - I've never had one die from it.

[Peterthecactusguy]

it might be some kind of virus? Sorta like the rings that are formed on Opuntia and others after they get bitten by a bug?