Why Is My Cactus Leaning. Cactus plants are one of the most resilient plants on the planet and they require very little care making them easy to take care of.
They can live in any type of environment, so long as it gets plenty of natural light and a suitable amount of moisture every now and again. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever come across some problems.
It’s an unfortunate reality that many new owners do not know about. One of the regular snags you may come across is plants that keep falling over to the side from leaning too far under their own weight.
Why Is My Cactus Leaning
The leaning or falling of a cactus indicates that it is getting too much water or is being underwater. Both conditions exhibit similar symptoms.
Repotting the succulent in a container with at least 2 inches of room around the sides will fix the problem, followed by watering when the top 2 inches of soil have dried out completely.
The purpose of this article is to explain why my cactus leans.
Lack Of Light
The cactus thrives in bright light and heat in its natural habitat, if you have observed its appearance. This adaptation makes it tolerant of high temperatures.
Cactus species that are grown as houseplants, however, are unlikely to survive prolonged periods of heat since they get weakened after they are exposed to sunlight for an extended period.
Nonetheless, for them to grow upright and strong with their upper part remaining straight, they require adequate sunlight.
Even if it receives adequate water and is not infected by pests, a plant that leans away from the sun may droop due to a lack of sunlight.
Causes Of Pests
Occasionally, insects can form colonies on cactuses such as ants, mealybugs, and spiders. Cactus stems are eventually devoured by these insects, resulting in the plant leaning over and falling over because it cannot support itself.
When the plant becomes infected with fungi or bacteria after leaving an infestation untreated, the moisture entering the root system can cause the plant to rot, causing more damage than was initially caused by the original insect attack.
If you notice mealybugs on your cactus, pick them off with tweezers or rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton balls. You can wash off ants with lukewarm water if necessary to prevent them from attacking your plants.
Rotted Roots
Bacteria and fungi are responsible for the rot. Rot occurs when the plants are overwatered. Black, slimy spots appear when the plants are overwatered. Rot begins at the base of the palm and spreads upward.
After a while, rotting palm trees begin to lean and collapse. Rotted palms can be replanted in fresh, dry soil if you detect them early.
The palm needs to be removed from the soil and all rotten parts need to be removed before it can be planted back in sandy soil where it can dry out for a while before being re-watered.
Under Watering Issue
Underwatering is the most obvious cause of living plants leaning. You might find that your cactus goes dormant or becomes purplish if you do not provide it with enough water.
Cacti that are underwater don’t have enough water in their cells, which causes the stems to weaken, causing the plant to begin leaning over.
Likewise, you might think that cacti do not require water during the winter months, but that’s not the case. In order to reduce the amount of water you normally give to the plants, reduce the frequency to every three weeks rather than every two weeks.
Container Large In Size
Cactus leaning can also be caused by the container you are currently using. It is not good for succulents to have overgrown spaces in large pots.
Thus, you need to choose a pot for your cactus that gives it space sideways and a couple of inches on the bottom side so that the roots can spread efficiently.
You can ensure the surplus growth of your cactus by choosing the right pot and repotting it properly. Reporter your cactus once every two to three years would help.
FAQs
Is there a way to prevent my cactus from leaning?
Cactus roots may be replanted in dry soil or packed with more soil around the base of the plant to solve this problem.
Additionally, small rocks or gravel can be added on top of the soil to aid in the growth of your cactus.
Cactus that is bent can it be straightened?
Even though you can’t go back and change the plant, you should remember that you can re-direct and re-channel its growth in order to have the plant grow straight.
If you give the plant more light, it will grow straight. It will grow straight up in strong sunlight, preferably direct sunlight outdoors. It tends to lean in a window.
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