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Why is my toothpick cactus dropping its spines?
I have had a toothpick cactus for about 8 years. When I bought it, it was maybe 3 inches tall. Now it's probably 7 inches, not counting the spines. The first thing I did was transplant it into a terra cotta pot with a cactus soil mix. I live in northern Utah and I keep the cactus outside during the summer. It gets full sun and then some. Temps are high 80s to 100+. In winter I put it in a solarium where it gets southern exposure sun and the temperature is in the 70s. I water it about once a month in the summer -- more if it's very hot and less if it's cool or rainy. In winter I water it maybe twice every three months. About three years ago I transplanted it into a larger pot.
It's a very healthy looking beast, with long white spines on the sides and new black spines on top. The skin is usually firm and green and almost velvety. At the top the skin is deep green and it's more pale toward the bottom. At the end of a watering cycle it will shrivel slightly, but not to an unhealthy degree. After I water it, it plumps up again.
I should say I'm very attached to this cactus.
Yesterday I found two black spines in the pot. They'd fallen off. I don't think this has ever happened. Another spine looks like it's going to drop off soon. Is this okay? Is this normal? I was thinking maybe this is how it reseeds? If I plant the spines will a new cactus grow?
Also, what can I feed the cactus to keep it healthy? Or should I bother?
1 Answer
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Honestly, from one cactus lover to another, you are not watering enough. I live in Northern Colorado so I sorda have the same growing conditions as you. When you have it outside in the summer in such hot weather, they can take more water. I water mine thoroughly every other Saturday in the Summer. In the winter it is tricky. Some get better light than others, and of course the smaller ones get watered more frequently because of the small pots. In the winter though, I water them thoroughly at LEAST once a month. I think your cactus is struggling and in the defense mode of survival it is starting to shed it's needles.
As far as ferts. go, I like Cactus Juice. You can get it online, if the local garden center does not have it. I know that they like a little extra Ca, but you don't find that additive on normal ferts. I use Age Old Organics every now and then. I don't go out of my way to fert. them, but maybe 2-3 times in the summer.
