By Graeme_w
lancashire, United Kingdom
As you can see from the accompanying photo I've got a problem with a seriously leaning cactus. Since I bought it about 8 years ago it has grown to it's current height of 68cm, has been repotted once (painfully as I remember) and is currently in a 20cm pot. It obviously needs repotting to correct its angle but any suggestions how I should go about it? Thanks in anticipation of your assistance.
- 26 Aug, 2011
Answers
As MG has said, you have left it in one direction only for a long time, if you simply turn it, it should self correct with time.
When repotting you need to grip it where there are no spike and repot it that way. Add sand to the soil mix.
26 Aug, 2011
That is a very healthy looking plant.
26 Aug, 2011
I think it looks nice and querky like that and as it is so healthy I would leave it well alone.
26 Aug, 2011
You can make a collar with a folded strip of newspaper to grip the cactus near the bottom. I think it might need two of you to repot it.
26 Aug, 2011
I repotted some seriously spiky cacti recently. Wore a long sleeved top and heavy gardening gloves and wrapped cactus in al old pillow case. Worked! If you do repot I would suggest buying cacti compost and adding a lot of fine grit to the compost.
26 Aug, 2011
A picture of you togged up in that lot would be a larfe! Lol.
26 Aug, 2011
I would place it outside for the summer next year and re-pot.
26 Aug, 2011
Lol Cammomile... Bulba possibly did take photos!
26 Aug, 2011
I don't know, Chesterfield has a crooked spire and people come from miles a round to see it. maybe you could advertise it as an attraction? LOL
26 Aug, 2011
I've tried the turning it away from the light trick - it seems to be the vampire of the cactus world as it leaned away from daylight even more!
Thanks for the advice about the compost/grit mix MG. What proportions would you suggest?
27 Aug, 2011
Graeme sorry I should have said either buy cactus compost or use your own compost with 50% fine grit.
27 Aug, 2011
Thanks. I'll try the latter as I already have 20litres of multi purpose compost.
27 Aug, 2011
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Before you go the repotting route you could try simply turning the existing pot so that the cactus is leaning away from the light. This may well cause it to straighten up.
26 Aug, 2011