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Hi all,
Today I noticed that my stenocereus thurberi has some spines that are very close to the soil line that at browning and turning soft. After clearing the soil off around this area and touch the stem of the plant, the flesh is still very firm and doesn't feel anything like rot. Should I be worried about this? Only the spines that are very close to the soil are doing this and the spines directly above those are very stiff and have no problems. Any help would be great.

Do you have a picture?

Aiko wrote:Do you have a picture?

Here is a picture, the spines are marked with the red circle. They are flaky and soft now but the flesh around and below them is hard and green like the rest of the plant.

I believe, that the weakening and eventual loss of those spines at the soil level is a natural event. I do see this sloughing off of spines near the bottom of the plant all the time with older cacti.

Harald

hegar wrote:I believe, that the weakening and eventual loss of those spines at the soil level is a natural event. I do see this sloughing off of spines near the bottom of the plant all the time with older cacti.

Harald

Thank you Harald! Coming to the rescue again