Cactus rot is a super common problem, and one of the main causes of cactus death. But just because your cactus is rotting doesn’t mean you can’t save it. In this post, I talk about the causes and symptoms, answer all of your questions, and give you step-by-step instructions for how to save a cactus from rot.
Rot can start anywhere on a cactus plant. It could start from the bottom and spread up the plant. It could start at the top and spread down. Or it could start anywhere in between.
No matter which parts of a cactus plant are rotting, there are steps you can take to save your plant. The steps are a bit different depending on where it’s rotting.
But don’t worry, I’ll give all the details for saving a rotting cactus in this post! Here’s what’s included…
Table of Contents
Why Is My Cactus Turning Brown At The Top?
When a cactus starts to turn brown and mushy at the top, it likely has something called tip rot (aka cactus stem rot).
Basically that means that your cactus is rotting. Cactus stem rot will spread quickly if nothing is done about it.
Once a cactus starts rotting top down, it won’t stop. It will continue to spread all way down the entire stem, and will eventually kill the plant.
So, once you discover cactus tip rot, it’s important to act fast in order to save the plant.
Why Is My Cactus Rotting Top Down?
There are a few things that can cause a cactus to rot from the top down. Cactus rot is caused by either fungus, disease or water getting into an open wound on the plant.
If a cactus is damaged in any way, it is vulnerable to being infected with disease or fungus spores. It’s also very common for water to settle into the wound, causing the plant to rot from the inside out.
The damage could have been caused by anything, including bugs or animals feeding on the plant. Someone could have brushed up against it, the plant could have tipped over, or maybe something fell on it.
You may never know the exact cause, so don’t beat yourself up about it.
The good news is that the steps for saving a rotting cactus are the same no matter how the it started in the first place. Below I will show you how to stop cactus rot from spreading so you can save your cactus.
My cactus turning brown on top from cactus tip rot
How To Save A Rotting Cactus
Once a cactus starts rotting, all the rot must be pruned off in order to save the plant. If it’s not completely removed, it will continue to spread, eventually killing your cactus. And cactus rot spreads very quickly.
You don’t want to end up with a dead cactus plant, so you’ll definitely want to act fast.
The steps for saving your cactus depend on where it’s rotting. So first I will show you the steps for how to save a cactus that is rotting top down.
Then, in the section below that, I’ll talk about how to save a cactus that’s rotting from the bottom up.
Cactus rotting bottom up
How To Save A Cactus Rotting Top Down
Cactus tip rot can be very deceiving. You may notice small brown spots on a cactus and think that it’s just a tiny bit of rot.
Then once you start removing the bad spots, you realize that it’s much, much worse on the inside than it looked on the outside.
So first, take a moment to prepare yourself for what you may find once you start cutting. Ready? Ok, follow these steps to remove cactus stem rot…
Step 1: Choose your pruning tool – You can use a sharp knife or pruning shears to remove the rot. If your cactus is really thick, then I recommend using a sharp knife.
Otherwise, for small plants with thin stems, precision pruners or bonsai shears would work great. Just make sure they’re super sharp so the cactus stem won’t be crushed.
Step 2: Clean your cutting tool (do NOT skip this step!) – Whatever tool you choose to use, it’s extremely important that it’s clean and sterile before you make any cuts.
Using a clean pruning tool will help prevent the spread of disease and fungus spores. You can simply wash your pruning shears or knife with soap and water, and then dry it before starting.
I also recommend washing and drying it again between each cut. You could also dip it in rubbing alcohol to sterilize it.
Step 3: Remove cactus stem rot in layers – It’s best to prune off the rot in layers so you’re sure that all of it has been removed.
Here you can see that the center of the healthy looking portion of my cactus plant still has rot on the inside. So we have to keep going…
Rot inside of the cactus stem
Step 4: Continue removing layers until all signs of rot are gone – As you work your way down pruning off layers of the plant, the rot will get thinner and thinner.
But remember, even a tiny bit of rot can continue to spread. So be sure you remove all signs of brown, soft and mushy cactus material until there are no more signs of rot left on the plant.
If your cactus is an outdoor plant, try to make the last cut at an angle so that water won’t settle on top of the wound (which will likely just cause it to rot again).
I would also move the plant to a dry area where it’s protected from rain until the wound has callused over, if possible.
Removing cactus stem rot in layers
Unfortunately, the rot on my plant was really severe before I noticed that the top was turning brown. I had to cut off over half of the cactus to remove all of it.
As difficult as it was for me to remove a large section of this cactus, I know my plant would be dead in a matter of weeks if I left behind any rot.
My cactus after all of the tip rot has been removed
Cactus Care Tips After Pruning
If you have to perform this type of surgery on one of your beloved plants, keep an eye on it afterward to make sure it doesn’t continue to rot. If it starts rotting again, follow the same steps above to remove the new rot.
After a couple of days, the wound should callus over, and your cactus will eventually send out new growth near the cut.
I was super sad to have to cut my cactus in half to remove all the rot. But heck, in the end I think it added more character to the plant.
New growth on my cactus after saving it from tip rot
How To Save A Cactus Rotting Bottom Up
Unfortunately, if your cactus is rotting bottom up, or the cactus roots are rotted, then there’s not much you can do to save it.
The best thing to do in this case is to cut off the healthy stem pieces, and propagate the cuttings.
Prune your cactus back in layers as shown in the steps above so you’re sure to get all of the rot off the cuttings. Allow the cutting to dry for several days until the cut end has callused over.
Then dip the stem in rooting hormone and stick it into a sandy cactus soil mix.
Don’t water the soil until you see new growth on the cutting. Depending on the variety you have, it can take several weeks for cactus cuttings to root.
Taking cuttings from a rotting cactus
Cactus Rot FAQS
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about troubleshooting common cactus problems. If you can’t find your answer here, go ahead and ask in the comments section below.
Why is my cactus turning black on top?
Because of cactus tip rot. Cactus rot can look black or brown in color.
Why is my cactus turning yellow?
When a cactus starts turning yellow, it’s a sign that it’s probably starting to rot. If only parts of your cactus plant are yellowing, then you can follow the steps above to save it.
However, if the entire thing is yellow, and your cactus is soft and mushy, then you may not be able to save it.
How do you save a dying cactus?
It’s really hard to say how to save a dying cactus without more information. It depends on how it’s dying. Most of the time a cactus will start dying either from tip rot or from bottom rot.
So check the plant carefully to see if you can find any parts that are changing color, or if the cactus feels soft. A soft cactus or a squishy cactus are both signs of rot.
Why did my cactus rot?
As I mentioned above, the main causes of cactus tip rot are either that a fungus or a disease has infected a wound on the plant, or water settled into it.
For a cactus bottom rot, it’s usually caused by overwatering. An overwatered cactus doesn’t always start rotting right away, so it might not be obvious that was the cause.
How do you bring a cactus back to life?
Well… that depends on how dead it is. But if the cactus is completely mush and there’s no green left on it at all, then I’m afraid you’re probably not going to be able to bring it back to life.
If, however, there is still a decent amount of healthy growth on the plant, then you might be able to save it by following the steps above.
What causes a cactus to die?
Overwatering is the number one cause of cactus death, especially for potted plants. A consistently overwatered cactus plant will starting rotting at the roots, and eventually work its way from the bottom of the cactus up.
Signs of overwatering cactus plants are difficult to spot though. Many times once the obvious signs show up (cactus turning yellow, black or brown, or a soft and mushy cactus plant), it’s too late to save the plant.
If you’re unsure of how much to water your cactus plant, I recommend getting an inexpensive soil water moisture gauge to help you get it right every time.
Cactus rot can be super frustrating, but it’s not always a death sentence for your plant. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty common problem with cactus plants.
So it’s a good idea to check your plants regularly for signs of rot. And remember, if you ever notice your cactus rotting make sure you act fast in order to save it!
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Share your tips for saving a rotting cactus in the comments section below.
Maggie says
Hi! I’ve had an old man cactus plant (also known as bunny cactus) that has turned brown on the bottom. I think my family is over watering it. I don’t know how long it’s been like this. It’s only a couple inches long, and it’s in a pot. I am scared to cut the good part off because it might get all dry. Please give me some tips, I really don’t want my favorite cactus to die.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Bummer to hear that the bottom of your old man cactus is rotting. How much of it is brown? If it’s only the very bottom near the soil line, and it’s firm and not mushy, then that’s pretty common. Just monitor it and make sure the soil stays dry from here on out. However, if it’s a larger part of the stem and it’s mushy, then the only hope you have to save it is to try propagating the healthy top part of the stem. If there are any offsets on the top, then those would be easier to root than a cutting of the main stem. Either way, it’s worth a shot to try to save it, because if it’s rotting at the base, the whole cactus will die eventually. 🙁 Good luck!
Sallie says
Hi Amy, we have a huge euphorbia not sure which one it is. This plant is outdoors and at least 40 years old. Last year most of the cactus had turned slightly yellow. Now over the months several branches are turning brown and dried up. We have been cutting off most of the dried up branches to try to save the cactus, but it doesn’t seem to be improving. Do you think this is rot? The cactus isn’t mushy or wet like most people report.
Do we need to be more aggressive with cutting all dead off of it? Is this cactus doomed?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds to me like your cactus may have experienced a minor case of rot at the base or root rot back when it turned yellow, and now the rest of it is slowly dying. My guess is that the center of the main stem has rotted away, and may even be hallow inside. If I were you, I would try to take cuttings of healthy green growth, and root them just in case. Then continue to prune off the dried up branches as you’ve been doing, and hope for the best. Good luck!
Don't know what I'm doing says
Hi,I have been caring for my sister n laws plants and she has a couple of different cactus and I noticed that her Mexican cactus was turning a little lighter green when I looked at it it was mushy and look like water coming out of it after looking on line I decided to cut the new shoots off to save them But not sure how long to let them heal over and if I need to get the root hormone to get them to root….Help!…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear that your cactus is rotting! You did the right thing by taking healthy cuttings before the entire plant died, good job. I would let them callus over for at least a week. Once the wound is crusty and firm, double check them to make sure there’s no sign of rot anywhere on the cuttings. if they look healthy, then you can propagate them. Yes, I recommend getting the rooting hormone for sure. That gives them a much better chance of rooting, and is worth the few extra dollars. Just make sure to use a very porous soil mix for them, and not regular potting soil. Here’s more info on that… How To Make Your Own Succulent Soil (With Recipe!)
Efren says
So I have this globe cacti, partially yellow on the yellow not that squishy, and the usual white cloudy spikes are now gone. I’ve been looking everywhere from apps to step by step procedure so first I replanted with available sand and soil at my house, a few days later there’s this hole and some crawlies I realized this was a mealybug and is left with distribution propagation
Amy Andrychowicz says
Ugh, sorry to hear you found mealybugs on your cactus. Here’s how to get rid of them… How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs On Plants, For Good!.
Marion knox says
I have a very large barrell cactus that has rotted fromthe bottom. I have cut of 1/3 from the bottom . The cactus was full of water ,what canido now is it savable?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear your barrel cactus started rotting! Unfortunately, once the base rots like that, then you may not be able to save it. If the are any offshoots or babies around the base, then you can remove those and pot them up. You certainly could try to root the healthy top piece that you cut off. But if it’s full of water like you mentioned, then it will likely just continue to rot. 🙁
Hannah says
Hi I have a small cactus which my friend brought for me the bottom has gone black (so I’m guessing it is rotting) but the top of the plant rather than looking waxy has gone almost leathery in the way it looks and feels quite hard. Do you think I will still be able to save it!
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds to me like your cactus plant might already be dead (sorry!). But, it’s hard to know for sure. I would try cutting off the rot in layers like I describe in the article to see if there’s a healthy green stem. If you find green, then you can try rooting it. Good luck!
Trudi says
I have a+50 year old cactus that has lost its outer skin near the bottom. It’s dark and dried up so I removed it and the bare inner core of the cactus is showing. It looks like wood bark. The rest of the cactus is healthy, sprouting babies on top.
Is this rot? What should I do?
Thank you
Amy Andrychowicz says
If the base of the stem is completely hollow and dried out, then it sounds like your cactus was rotting at one point, and now it’s dried up. Follow the instructions in the section above titled “How To Save A Cactus Rotting Bottom Up” for details on what to do.
Lea says
To me this sounds more like corking? I noticed he same on my cactus, so I googled a bit and the term corking came up. As I´ve understood that´s just the normal aging prosess of a cacatus and I don´t think it needs to be removed. It just happens becuse the plant needs more support. Corking makes the base of the cactus hard, dry and dark, not squishy.
Mollie says
Hi! I have a cactus that is definitely rotting! The bottom is black and spots throughout it are black and yellow. I was going to throw it out but I noticed that the new growth that had started when the cactus was healthy, has started to grow more! It’s such a tiny piece, maybe an inch tall that has grown but I’d love to save it. But I don’t know how or if it’s possible since there seems to be rot throughout the entire plant!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear your cactus has rotted! I would try cutting off the small green part to see if you can propagate it. But, since it’s such a tiny piece, you may not be successful.
Katurah says
Hi! i came across this article that seems very useful. My son bought a baby cactus, I’m not sure the exact name but it’s from the barrel family and has soft fuzzy yellow spines. The plante is about an inch tall. Yesterday he said that it was changing colors. It was dark green on top and fat and light green on the bottom. This cactus was bought in Arizona and we live in Puerto Rico where humidity is high, and I am aware that it could be over watered. We give about 2 tbsp every month. So after I looked up about the different colors I decides that maybe it needed more sunlight so I put it on my balcony, not in direct sunlight so it wouldn’t burn, the poor little thing. Now The entire plant is dark green, the fat bottom is now thinner and the plant is a little mushy. Any suggestions? Do I need to replant it? Check the roots? I can’t really prune it since it is so small. Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear your son’s cactus is not doing well. Unfortunately, if the whole thing is soft and/or mushy, then you probably won’t be able to save it. Cactus plants don’t do well in humid environments, and just a little bit of overwatering can kill them pretty quickly. 🙁
Jack Hoyer says
Thanks, Amy. That’s very helpful. I’m not sure that the plant is free of rot. The stem below the cut has become somewhat brownish. If it’s fungus it’s probably my fault in that I didn’t follow your clear instructions about cleaning my cutting tool after each cut. The branches still look healthy. I’ll wait and see what happens and wait till the soil is bone dry before watering it. Thanks again!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Definitely keep an eye on the stem below the cut to make sure it doesn’t get mushy. If it starts to, then that means you didn’t get all of the rot, and will have to do more cutting. Good luck, I hope your cactus will recover!
Jack Hoyer says
Thank you, Amy for the very helpful information. I had to remove over half of my cactus plant that was rotting from the top. Fortunately there were a good number of healthy branches below the cut. Unfortunately my cutting tools weren’t as sharp as they should have been so my cut was a bit ragged. It’s been 3 days now. The growth below the cut seems healthy. I think the cut is drying out-or “callousing” over. It’s been about 3 weeks since I watered the plant. How long should I wait before watering next? Thanks again, Jack H.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh bummer, sorry to hear your cactus had tip rot, and that you had to remove so much of it! I’m glad you were able to catch it in time to save your plant though, whew! Don’t worry about the jagged cut. As long as the wound calluses over without anymore signs of rot, then it will just be an aesthetic thing. Wait until the soil is bone dry before watering your cactus again. Stick your finger as deep into the soil as you can, and if it feels damp at all, then wait to water it again. Also, make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes, and never leave it sitting in water. Good luck!
Iris says
I saw someone say to use powder cinnamon that it helps disinfect thoughts on this ? I used it and I’m waiting for two days for it to dry so I can repot it. Tips on using good soil ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I have never tried using cinnamon on a rotting cactus, so I can’t speak to that. The best type of soil for cactus plants is a sandy, porous mix. I have a good soil mix recipe that you can try here… How To Make Your Own Succulent Soil (search for “DIY cactus soil mix”)