Q. For several years my saguaro has been turning brown
slowly but the process has speeded up this year. I have two others, one
of which I had to transplant after it grew too much for its original location,
but neither of them has problems and seem to be completely healthy. I
really don’t believe I am overwatering it, but it is a possibility
slowly but the process has speeded up this year. I have two others, one
of which I had to transplant after it grew too much for its original location,
but neither of them has problems and seem to be completely healthy. I
really don’t believe I am overwatering it, but it is a possibility
Q. The last time I have seen this kind of browning on the
surface of a saguaro is in a landscape where they were wrapping the Saguaro
each winter in an attempt to protect it from winter cold damage. They used
burlap.
surface of a saguaro is in a landscape where they were wrapping the Saguaro
each winter in an attempt to protect it from winter cold damage. They used
burlap.
It caused a
lot of surface disease problems on the cactus because of a lack of air
circulation. They finally stopped doing that but the damage was already done and
the surface of the cactus had a lot of brown damaged areas.
lot of surface disease problems on the cactus because of a lack of air
circulation. They finally stopped doing that but the damage was already done and
the surface of the cactus had a lot of brown damaged areas.
I hope you
are not doing that. If you are, stop it. Let it breathe and take your chances.
I know they are expensive but wrapping them causes more damage than good.
are not doing that. If you are, stop it. Let it breathe and take your chances.
I know they are expensive but wrapping them causes more damage than good.
Make sure
that water is applied to the surface of the soil surrounding out to a distance
of six or 8 feet. Do not water too often. Water deeply in these areas about
every 2 to 3 weeks. I would rather see it at three weeks than two weeks and
actually three weeks is really too often.
that water is applied to the surface of the soil surrounding out to a distance
of six or 8 feet. Do not water too often. Water deeply in these areas about
every 2 to 3 weeks. I would rather see it at three weeks than two weeks and
actually three weeks is really too often.
These
plants store water in their fat bodies and can live on this water for a long
time. When water is present they absorb it like a sponge, very quickly and that
fat body swells up and expands like an accordion. That’s why it’s ribbed. Don’t
wrap it in the winter time and water it deeply and not very often.
plants store water in their fat bodies and can live on this water for a long
time. When water is present they absorb it like a sponge, very quickly and that
fat body swells up and expands like an accordion. That’s why it’s ribbed. Don’t
wrap it in the winter time and water it deeply and not very often.