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I’ve had this cactus for around 8 years (see first pic)- it’s been repotted twice. I last repotted in 2020 and since then it has grown massively. It was able to support itself (3rd pic) until very recently. What is the best solution for this ?

I’m aware it probably needs a wider pot but I was away during the active growth season. Thank you in advance!!

You used it as a decorative unit in unsunny place. It needed full sun. Transfer.

This plant is suffering from low light. It will never look normal at this point and you should cut off all of the spindly growth. If it was my cactus, I would sever it immediately above where the shadow crosses the stem in the last photo. It should put out one or more new stems around the cut next year. You can prop it up with wooden stakes. What it really wants to do is send out lateral roots, which also help with balance. And next growing season, get it some good sun exposure!

Both good and bad news.
The bad news is, there is nothing you can do the reverse the effect. It's permanent.
The good news is, you can cut the cactus into smaller pieces and let it grows in a new shoot. By that, you could have about 2 new plants, cut him by half or at his twist, and let the cut air-dry for at least a week before putting them back into the soil.

Thank you for all the help!! Quick note, the cactus hasn’t been at that stained glass window for a few years now - as I mentioned I haven’t been looking after it this year but I’ve been reassured it has been at a south facing window!!!

tumamoc wrote: ↑Tue Oct 18, 2022 1:03 amThis plant is suffering from low light.

The technical term for that is etiolation.

Some cacti are fine as windowsill plants, but it depends on the species. Ella, columnar species like yours don't do well as windowsill cacti because they'll get etiolated over time -- in your case, I think you have about 4 years of etiolation working against you. Unless you're able to keep your columnar plant outdoors with plenty of light in the spring and summer, Lupask01's suggestion won't work in the long run since any new stem growth you see will eventually become etiolated too. If you're not able to keep your cacti outdoors in the growing season, stick with cacti that have a globular form.