Are you noticing some discoloration or worried about your Cactus health lately? Well, don’t worry! We are here with all the common reasons for cactus fading along with their solutions.
Cacti are famous all over the world for their unique beauty and resilience. To be precise, these plants need bright indirect sun, good ventilation, and watering after intervals.
However, any disturbance in their basic requirements and you will be wondering ‘why is my cactus turning white? In this article, we are sharing a thorough guide to avoid Cactus issues and enjoy a healthy Cactus Plant.
Why Is My Cactus Turning White
Let us have a look at the main possible reasons for a cactus losing its color:
Improper Watering
Improper watering is one of the most common issues in Cactus care. These desert dwellers need much lesser water as compared to the common domestic plants.
Moreover, a large number of cacti can live without any water even for months. The key principle here is to water the soil thoroughly and allow it to dry out between consecutive watering.
A wilting cactus with the surface turning white depicts signs of over-watering. If it is an indoor plant, the pot might show a slimy coating as well.
On the other hand, a cactus turning white with shriveled stems and spines indicate under-watering. This thirsty peep will become droopy and pale before it gets completely white.
How to water a cactus:
To avoid improper watering, make sure you follow the key rule. Drench the soil until the drainage holes began to drain water. Afterward, allow the soil to dry out before you water again.
As an estimate, common cacti should be watered once every ten to fifteen days in summer. While the sleeping or dormant baby of winter doesn’t need to be watered more than once a month.
How to treat an over-watered Cactus:
Once you notice your cactus turning white, reconsider your watering strategy as a first step.
- In case you notice over-watering, immediately place the plant at some warm spot with indirect sunlight.
- Withhold watering for a week or more, until the soil gets completely dry. After the drying period, make sure you never water the soil unless it gets dry.
How to treat an under-watered Cactus:
This dehydrated peep needs to regain its moisture.
- Just drench the soil deeply unless it starts flowing out from the drainage holes. Now, let the roots soak the desired water. Afterward, follow the normal watering routine and water again after the soil loses its moisture.
Sun Burn
Resilience for the direct sun is a common misconception. However, to your surprise, this is not true. Longer periods of direct exposure to the bright sun can burn the cacti as well! Yes, these too can get sunburnt, becoming white and dehydrated.
How to prevent Cactus sun damage?
The best approach is to be careful while choosing a suitable spot for your plant. A place with the bright indirect sun is ideal. A few hours of the mild morning sun will not do any harm as well. However, longer exposures to the direct sun especially at peak hours can destroy your cactus plant.
How to treat a Cactus Sunburn:
- When you see your sun-standing cactus turning white, you know it’s time to change the place. Choose some well-lit shade to calm the burnt baby.
- Mild misting on the plant body for a few days will also help to conserve the lost moisture. Make sure you don’t apply any fertilizer at this stage. As they will only enhance the burning effect and nothing else at all.
Cold and Frost
Besides watering and light, the temperature is another considerable factor to avoid wondering ‘Why is my Cactus turning white?’
These dessert native plants have poor tolerance for cold and frost. A temperature below 50 °F can make your cactus get frosted.
The reasons behind this are the crystals of ice that get settled on the spikes and upper surface. This temporary condition if left untreated can even kill the cactus mercilessly.
How to save a cactus from cold damage:
- They say ‘prevention is better than cure. So, make sure you try your best to avoid frost in the first step. People living in colder regions should prefer planting cacti in pots and containers. This way they can easily bring them indoors before nature gets fierce.
- No doubt these plants can withstand droughts for long, but longer neglect can make them dehydrated. Hence, make sure you don’t forget to water at least once every 4 to 6 weeks. Also, this is only for once and you should not skip watering, especially in summer.
- The body of the plant can be covered by some protective sheet or burlap. This is more helpful on the frosty days.
- Insulation helps the exposed roots(if any) to conserve their internal heat. Using materials like straws and leaves is a good way to cover the exposed roots.
How to treat a cactus from frost damage?
- The first step in helping a cold cactus is to place it at some warm and ventilated place with indirect sun. Provide plenty of water to the roots while making sure the drainage holes are not blocked.
- If there are any dead branches, the only fortune for them is to be removed. Let the plant rest and stay in this warm environment. Wait and you will see it become alive again in a few weeks.
Mold
Cacti need to stay in well-ventilated spots. Lack of airflow around the plant supports mold growth. This if left unchecked, tends to cover the whole of the plant surface in no time.
How to prevent Cactus Mold:
Choose a well-ventilated place with good indirect sunlight for your cactus. You can also bring your indoor peeps outdoors on pleasant sunny days.
How to treat Cactus Mold:
Once you notice these white spots, opt for immediate action.
- Move your plant to some airy and well-lit place.
- Hydrate it well and remove the moldy patches with the help of a brush.
- You can also use Neem oil on the patches to kill any spores from the plant surface.
- Wait for a few days to see no new moldy growth as a sign of successful rescue.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding is always harmful to the plants, as it is for the cacti. These plants need very little fertilizers as compared to many other plants. Precisely, once a year is a good fertilizing frequency to keep the plant in good health.
The main symptoms of over-feeding include the plant body turning white with leaves getting yellow and looking sunburnt. So, if you see these signs, don’t forget to consider the fertilizing routine and concentration.
How to prevent cactus over-feeding:
The rule is to use a good quality cactus fertilizer annually, in the warm season only. Make sure you are using mild concentration and dilute it to half of its strength. Also, you can replace the potting mixture with a special cactus soil mixture. This will ensure a good nutrient level in the growing medium and cut out the need to provide fertilizer.
How to treat an over-fed cactus:
An overfed cactus can be helped by pruning. This will reduce the body of the plant which in turn decreases nutrient and water absorption. Other helpful acts include placing the plant in shade and reducing the water availability.
Pest Infestation
Cacti are prone to different pests including the common aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. The mother bugs lay their eggs on the spikes of the plant. Furthermore, these eggs hatch, and the young ones produce a special liquid known as honeydew. This results in the rotting of the plant.
Besides whitening, other symptoms of pest infestation include discolored patches. These spots can be in different colors mainly yellow, black, brown, or pink.
How to prevent Cactus pest attacks:
A plant staying in a healthy environment according to its requirements has fewer chances of pest attacks.
- Always follow the proper Cactus watering schedule. This will keep the plant in a healthy state minimizing the chances of infestations.
- Place the cactus in a place with plenty of indirect sunlight.
- The place should be well-ventilated and not humid like the kitchen and bathrooms.
How to treat Cactus Pest Infestation?
When you start noticing the discolorations, have a closer look to check the plant thoroughly.
- As a next step, isolate it from other plants as soon as possible. This will suppress the spread and save the healthy ones.
- Use commonly available pest sprays all over the plant. You can also use neem oil to kill the bugs and their larvae.
Cactus Moth
Cactoblastis cactorum is another common pest that attacks the cactus and makes it turn white. The larvae puncture the soft tissue of the plant and feed upon it. Left untreated, these nasty moths can deform or even totally kill the plant.
How to prevent Cactus Moth:
- An infected plant will spread the larvae to the neighboring plants. So, the recently bought plant can be infected from the nursery. The best way to avoid this bug is to keep the new plant in quarantine. Place it away from the other plants for at least four weeks.
- If the plant remains healthy, feel free to let it join your plant collection.
- Also, make sure your plant collection is away from the windows which can be the carriers for this bug.
- Another measure to avoid this bug is to avoid keeping the cactus near its favorite targets. Common targets include tomato and potato plants.
How to treat Cactus Moth:
- In the initial stage, the cactus will just start turning white with small moths moving along it. You can use a commonly available anti-cactorum spray on the plant. These sprays are good enough to kill the moths along with all the larvae.
- If the infestation is in an advanced stage, you need to cut off the infected foliage as soon as possible. This will not only save your plant but also help to control the spread to surrounding plants. Afterward, spray the plant with the anti-pest spray to ensure the larvae are killed completely.
Cactus Rot
This is another possible reason which is making you wonder ‘why is my cactus turning white?’. It begins with the cactus turning brown on the outside while it gets mushy inside. As a result, the plant will start losing its color due to the salt buildup.
Besides the stem, the roots too get infected sometimes. This reduces or minimizes the water absorption making the plant get dehydrated.
A rotten cactus caught and helped in early stages will be back again in a few weeks. However, if left unchecked, this situation can eventually kill the plant.
How to prevent Cactus Rot:
Proper watering is the key to avoiding this issue. This will save the soil from getting soggy which is the root of this and many other Cactus issues.
How to save a rotting Cactus?
- The plant needs to get rid of the damaged parts as soon as possible. Just grab a pair of sterilized gardening shears and cut away the rotten parts. Make sure you dispose of them properly to avoid spreading the infection to other plants.
- To be on the safe side, it is better to check for root rot as well. Just take the plat out to check the roots. Cut and remove all the mushy roots and replant the cactus in a fresh growing mixture and new pot.
- Once replanted, make sure you avoid over-watering and never water unless the soil gets dry. Also, the plant should stand in a well-lit and ventilated place.
- You may notice small white spots initially. Howbeit, if all goes well, they will go by a period of about two weeks.
Fungal Attacks
Cactus erythema is another possible cause of your cactus losing its color and start turning white. The initial symptoms of a fungal infection include raised reddish spots with pale or brown borders. The lower parts of the plant body are the foremost victims. However, you can see these spots anywhere on the plant.
In the second stage, the plant will show soft patches in between the joints. The soft tissues found at these places are more susceptible to drying and fungal infections.
How to prevent Cactus Fungal Infections?
A properly watered plant at a well-ventilated place has minimum chances of fungal attacks.
How to save a Fungal infected Cactus?
- Cut and remove the infected parts as soon as you notice the discoloration. Discard these parts away from plant areas to cease the spread.
- Modern fungicides are pretty helpful to get rid of the infection. Get a good one and spray it evenly over the plant.
- Place the plant in some shelter with plenty of fresh air, indirect light, and comfortable temperature.
- Mist the body mildly to compensate for the moisture loss. However, make sure the plant doesn’t stay wet for long.
Harmful Chemicals
Harmful chemicals used in everyday domestic routines can also affect the plants. These chemicals include bleach, ammonia, detergents, etc. There are possibilities that either the pot has not been washed properly or the watering vessel is contaminated.
How to prevent Chemical Affects:
- Firstly, the pots used for the plant must be checked and washed properly before putting the growing mixture.
- Secondly, make sure the watering bucket or vessel is clean enough.
- Thirdly, the plants should be at safe distances during chemical exposure like washing or varnishing. Experts suggest removing the plants from the area where you suspect chemical fumes and other such activities.
How to save a Chemical affected Cactus:
The cactus needs immediate detoxification. This can be done by placing the plant outdoors in the fresh air and good sunlight for a few days. It is better to bring it indoors at night, especially to avoid cold weather. This will help the plant to soak some nature and get rid of the harmful substances absorbed in the body.
- Washing the outer pot and surroundings of the plant is also productive. This will help to remove any toxic substances around like paint or varnish.
- Keep watering the cactus according to the routine and wait for about three months. New growths will show your success in saving your plant.
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Final Words On Cactus Turning White
Cacti are a famous plant collection, loved for their resilience and unique beauty. These plants need bright indirect sun, infrequent watering, and good ventilation. Any disturbance in these basic requirements can destroy the plant’s health.
Many issues can result in discoloration of your cactus plant. These include improper watering, poor ventilation, and unsuitable light. Also, these basic issues lead to secondary ones like pest infestations, rotting, and fungal attacks.
So, do you want to avoid wondering ‘why is my cactus turning white?’ Experts advise checking your plants thoroughly at least once every two weeks. This will help to notice and fight any issue at the early stages.
