Houseplants: Sick pencil cactus

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gopugs Alpharetta, GA July 8, 2009 06:25 PM	What is wrong with my cactus? I have had it for atleast 7 years with no problems and it is about 8ft tall. About a week ago I noticed these indentations on the lower stems and are continuing to spread! Please help! View Larger
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 8, 2009 06:45 PM	I am no pro but could somthing be eating it?
gopugs Alpharetta, GA July 8, 2009 07:09 PM	not that I am aware of. I have checked and double checked, and there are very few pests that invade the pencil cacus from what I have read. Thanks for responding.
tapla Bay City, MI (Zone 6a) July 9, 2009 12:25 AM	They look like lesions resulting from a fungal infection. Are you misting this plant, or wetting the foliage when you water? Is it in a humid area where air movement/circulation is poor? Al
gopugs Alpharetta, GA July 9, 2009 07:01 PM	My plant is on my screened porch during the summer months. I do not mist often, but sometimes when it rains I will pull it outside. I was concerned about a fungal infection, but I can not find any information on the net for pencil cactus fungal infections or treatments. Do you have any ideas?
tapla Bay City, MI (Zone 6a) July 9, 2009 08:11 PM	Generally, fungal infections are difficult to fix and prophylactic treatment is the best bet. There is a product that you can buy over the counter that works well as a fixative. Anything with Tebuconazole (a systemic fungicide) in it at around a 3% concentration works very well against a wide range of fungaluglies. Bayer offers it in several products, but I would shy away from those that contain insecticides and/or fertilizers in addition to the fungicide. There are a few things I should tell you. It won't remove the lesions, The plant will eventually grow new tissue around them, but until then, they will remain. Read the label on the product and follow directions. It's not particularly noxious, but it's not for use on anything you'll consume. Al
gopugs Alpharetta, GA July 9, 2009 09:00 PM	Thanks for your reply. If this is not a fungal problem will applying medicine damage my plant? I really want to save it because they are hard to come by due to it poisenous qualities. I am thinking of cutting off the top 1/3 so I can start a new plant, just in case!
iluvcatz Westerly, RI July 10, 2009 01:28 AM	I know somone who has one of these. she is comming over tomorrow and if i rember i will show her your pics. Maby she can help you out,
tapla Bay City, MI (Zone 6a) July 10, 2009 02:54 AM	"If this is not a fungal problem will applying medicine damage my plant?" No, it won't. If you are going to try to propagate it, I would treat it first and wait a week, then treat it again before taking cuttings. Having the fungicide on board will improve the odds of the cutting(s) striking. Al
gopugs Alpharetta, GA July 10, 2009 07:40 PM	Thanks Al and Iluvcatz! I am going to purchase the meds and I will update on my favorite plants progress. One more question. I had had it for atleast 7 years, it is outside on my porch every summer and never any problems. I transplanted it two summers ago, and still no problems. Could something have gotten into the soil, should I repot after I treat? This is such a hardy plant, that I am mind boggled! Ginger
tapla Bay City, MI (Zone 6a) July 10, 2009 08:55 PM	I'll be very objective and say that trusting a remote diagnosis as the only possible cause is putting all your eggs in one basket. Plants that are in decline generally don't reverse the decline w/o an active human hand to intervene or some change in the stress/strain-causing agent, most often directly or indirectly a cultural influence. I said all that so I could say it's wise to invest a little time and look beyond the singular idea that it is fungal. Yes, lift the pl;ant and inspect the roots. A fungal infection may only be a symptom of an underlying cause. Examine the plant very closely for insects, going as far as to look at it well after dark to eliminate noxious day OR night marauders. It's possible that the indentations are scarring left at insect feeding sights. I still think it's fungal. When fungal infections are afoot, the fungus attacks cell walls. As the walls break down, they release the interior contents of the cell, mostly water. The water evaporates and leaves kind of a crater. Meanwhile , the plant receives chemical messages that it has been wounded. Suberin deposition in wounded cortex/phloem tissues is one of plant's first responses, and it very often ends up looking just like the lesions on your cactus. Take good care, Gopugs. BTW - I have 2 very good friends who have pugs, and I'm trying to talk my son into getting one for my GS. ;o) Al
acts238 Fort Wayne, IN March 11, 2010 03:01 PM	I surely hope that by now you've found the cuplrit for your pencil cactus. When I saw the picture I remembered reading and seeing another thread about orchid cactus and the damage looked so familiar and the problem was a night feeder that stayed in the dirt until evening.

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