Mammillaria with a hole
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:24 am
Hello!
I’m fairly new to cacti, and I bought this Mammillaria some weeks ago.
By browsing this website I learned a bit about soil, so I unpotted it to check the roots and put a more suitable substrate in.
Doing this I noticed it had a hole in its side just under the soil line which could fit my fingertip. The tissue wasn’t smelly nor slimy, but still a bit soft and thready, a bit like coconut fiber. I thought it might end up fully rotting due to its position, so I disinfected a knife and cut away the affected part: a very small layer of tissue, the flesh underneath it was hard and seemed healthy (it was pink, but I’ve seen some cut Mammillaria specimens online with the same coloring). I sprinkled rooting powder on it and left it to dry.
I realize it would have been smarter to ask here before playing doctor, but here we are, so I’m asking now: did I do something awfully wrong? And how long do I leave it to dry now? It saddens me to see it there with its roots up in the air, but due to the position of the damaged area I’m afraid it would just be worse to repot it now.
Thank you!
I’m fairly new to cacti, and I bought this Mammillaria some weeks ago.
By browsing this website I learned a bit about soil, so I unpotted it to check the roots and put a more suitable substrate in.
Doing this I noticed it had a hole in its side just under the soil line which could fit my fingertip. The tissue wasn’t smelly nor slimy, but still a bit soft and thready, a bit like coconut fiber. I thought it might end up fully rotting due to its position, so I disinfected a knife and cut away the affected part: a very small layer of tissue, the flesh underneath it was hard and seemed healthy (it was pink, but I’ve seen some cut Mammillaria specimens online with the same coloring). I sprinkled rooting powder on it and left it to dry.
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- cact2.jpg (232.43 KiB) Viewed 1321 times
- cact3.jpg (196.8 KiB) Viewed 1321 times
I realize it would have been smarter to ask here before playing doctor, but here we are, so I’m asking now: did I do something awfully wrong? And how long do I leave it to dry now? It saddens me to see it there with its roots up in the air, but due to the position of the damaged area I’m afraid it would just be worse to repot it now.
Thank you!
Nice plant, you have saved it's life!
As a bit of a ‘rescuer’ myself, I always find rescue stories interesting.