Alternatively, if only the base begins to rot, remove the scion (coloured top) and place it a quarter into a fresh batch of 'Cactus' labelled compost. If the base of the plant ( Euphorbia lactea) begins to rot as well, discard the whole specimen. If the roots sport a yellow tinge, you're good to go, but if they're brown and mushy, action must be taken immediately. Take the plant out of the pot and inspect the roots as they'll tell a lot about the plant's wellbeing. If the coloured top begins to brown and rot, it's most likely to do with too saturated soil or waterlogged conditions. Although a 'Houseplant' fertiliser will still do the job, we'd recommend using a specific 'Cactus' labelled feed as it'll support the vital thirteen nutrients that this species will need to grow. This is not a necessity however, a quick hose down from time to time will hydrate the leaves and wash away dust or potential pests.įertilise every two months during the growing period and every three months in the autumn & winter during its dormancy period. The differences between under and over-watering can be very similar, with a rotten root ball being the obvious difference. Over-watering symptoms include a weakened or rotten stem, no new growth, yellowing lower leaves and eventual plant death. Remember, the brighter the location, the more watering you'll need to do. These issues are usually caused by too much light/heat or forgetfulness. Under-watering symptoms include shrivelled or leggy leaves, yellowing, little to no growth and dry, crispy patches forming on the leaf edges. Allow all of the soil to thoroughly dry out in between waters in the growing period, reducing this even further in the autumn and winter. Not only will continuous soil moisture ruin their root systems, but it'll also increase the risk of 'basal rot' which essentially will destroy the plant from its centre. The ukhouseplants saying of 'drenches between droughts' strongly applies to Coral Cacti. The maximum amount of sunlight for this plant is around four hours a day. Remember to keep the specimen well hydrated during this period, and always abort the experiment if it shows signs of sun-scorch. The plant will slowly decease the production of chlorophyll, which in turn will reduce the risk of bleaching and sun-scorch. Each week, increase the amount of light by an hour, starting with just an hour of morning sunlight to gain its momentum. If you have recently bought your Coral Cacti, it can be trained to tolerate harsher levels of sunlight than most houseplants, by gently increasing the number of hours in the sun over the oncoming month. Due to the species' intolerance to low light, avoid placing one in areas where a newspaper can’t be read without the use of artificial light. A few hours of off-peak sunlight will be highly beneficial for the plant, as it’ll significantly reduce the risk of over-watering and root rot. Keep an eye out for Mealybugs & Scale that'll hide in the plant's cubbyholes.Īs mentioned above, Coral Cacti are best located in a bright location that boasts high temperatures in the spring and summer.Repot every three to four years during the spring, using a 'Cactus & Succulent' labelled potting mix.Fertilise every two or three months using either a 'Cactus' or 'Houseplant' labelled feed.Coral Cacti must endure periods of droughts between waters - if you're stuck with when to water it, think of the ukhouseplants ' phrase of 'Drenches Between Droughts'.

Those bought in winter are okay to be placed in all-day sunlight as the natural rays are weaker during the shorter days. Recently purchased specimens may need to build up their tolerance and exposure to the sun over the course of the next eight weeks, if it's been purchased in the summer.Exposure to either morning or evening sunlight is key for good, quality growth.Need the answer to a specific plant query? Book a 1-to-1 video call with Joe Bagley, the website's friendly author, to overcome and address your niggling problem! Available on iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger & more. Origins, Temperature, Propagation, Repotting & Toxicity.Location, Water, Humidity & Fertilisation.This product is actually grafted, with the coloured top being a crested Opuntia and the rootstock (or basal plant) being a Euphorbia lactea or Selenicereus undatus.

Coral cactus