We Get Questions
hi hap –
attached are pictures of our cactus. one snapshot includes the white spots (scales), and the other picture is of the browning at the bottom of the plant.
please call to share your thoughts.
thanks,
tish
Tish,
As I said on the phone it looks like the cactus has caught an infection (think of it as it caught a cold…). The best “Home Remedy” that I can suggest is to spray it once a week with the following:
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup hot water
Mix well, spray to the point of run-off. It works best if you spray at night, after it is dark, since cacti keep their stoma closed until night so they can conserve water, so by spraying at night the mix can get in to the skin. Spray once a week for at least three treatments.
The scale insects can be cleaned off with a Q-tip dipped in alcohol. It will dissolve the glue that they use to keep themselves attached to the plant.
If the plant does not look like it is improving by the end of the month please give me a call and we can try something more agressive.
Take care,
Hap
