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Cactus Surgery

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So i bought this guy for what i think was an extremely good price knowing that it had some damage. It has an old wound that seems to be fully dried out and not affecting growth at all.

 

My worry is that water will get into it and cause rot. Im wondering if anyone else has dealt with the same problem and has any advice? 

 

My plan of attack is to cut out all the damaged material, dust with mancozeb protectant fungicide and allow the wound to dry. Then paint the wound with bitumen paint or similar and fill the void with expanding foam, silicone or something similar. 

 

What do you guys think ? Any other ideas or options ? 

 

Thanks 

Tbg

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Dude, that sounds like some pretty extreme surgery. Is it actively rotting? 

I think I would keep it dry, under a clear roof that allows sunlight in, and wait it out... it'll be slow with a barrel, but that treatment sounds pretty hardcore to me...

my 2 cents...

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I certainly wouldn't be letting expanding foam anywhere near it whatever else you do. It's not a closed cell foam, so it absorbs water and will cause more rot.

I'd give it a douse with sulfur and keep it dry for a while. If it doesn't turn to mush in a month I think you might be in the clear and can avoid the surgery.

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Thanks for the imput guys. It's all dryed out and not actively rotting I'm just worried about water sitting in the hole and causing future rot. 

 

Good point about the expanding foam that I didnt think about.

 

i feel like it needs something to fill the hole to stop moisture and water sitting in there, or am I being over protective ?

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I have a trichocereus that has a hole on its side which I worried about at first but when it is VErY well calloused and time passes the hole reduced in size and the water that does pool evaporates after a day or two.

 

what you can do is cut a small channel so most of the water drains out the side/bottom but I wouldn't remove that dead material as it is likely already well calloused and thick which prevents rot.

 

i opted for surgery making the large hole because mine had active rot and ended up removing a tennis ball sized chunk of rotting flesh; removing a portion of the core as well.

 

cacti in nature have holes and damage that causes water to pool but they don't rot. If it is very well callous in a sunny location and in AU it's dry and hot so water should pool for more than a day or two so I think your fine. Saguaro cacti have holes birds nest in but it is a desert so idk but I'm sure some water pulls for a while.

 

ill check if I have a photo of my cactus

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in time the hole will come down, you can be extra carefull till then to not leave water in there.... 

 

 

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Before we go on with thread, have you haver realized plants feel pain and this might be cruel?

 

I am suggesting an experiment where you sedate half of the plants with morphine and see the reaction in both control opposed to the sedated plants

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Still haven't decided how I'm going to attack this guy but I will need to do something because it will be going out into the ground uncovered eventually. 

 

Dualwieldrake he's already had a severe lobotomy so I don't think we'd get a reaction anyway, plus if I had morphine itd be going towards my back pain first.

 

maybe it just needs one of those little cocktail umbrellas over the hole 

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