Diagnosis?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Last year I bought a little new to me red flowered Rebutia. It had some off colored patches on it that the vendor explained were "corking" and not important. This corking seemed to grow on the plant although it flowered nicely. I didn't know what to do except take it out of the direct sun just in case it was getting sunburned. Then I brought it in over winter, put it under gro lights and watered sparingly. When I brought it out this spring this is how it looked. The "corking" (or something) seems to have grown all up over the plant with only a few green spaces left. That's not right.
Have you ever seen this? Reminds me somewhat of powdery mildew on roses , but this isn't a rose......Maryl

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Comments (5)

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
10 years ago
Corking could be quite extensive, and starts from the base of the plant. If it starts in the middle, top or sides it is usually not corking. The lowest part of your plant is corking, I can't tell higher up - seems to be bit fuzzy & white? And there is also a green spot in the middle - but I have no idea if that is normal or not.

There seems to be a black-dark spot at the top edge of the whitish/sort of fuzzy area in first photo - difficult to be sure just looking at the photo, but it looks more like rotting? Did you check that? Or am I seeing things?
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I think it's rotting. The base of the plant looks sunken, and there's also that dodgy looking dark area shown best in be first pic. Does it feel soft in any area?

Gill UK
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TaraMaiden
10 years ago
I think it would be fair to say that this one is beyond help, frankly.

Buy plants from reputable outlets, which, in addition to having better quality plants, also very often give a guarantee with them.

In your shoes I'd put this down to experience, and forge ahead and buy new plants in....
kenizona
10 years ago
Spider mites can cause this kind of damage to the skin of cactus. Some kinds, such as red mites and flat mites, are tiny and don't spin many webs. Get a strong magnifying glass and check the surface for tiny crawlers. If they are on one plant, they will be on others.

The dark spot and sunken look suggest it also has rot, and is probably done for. Sorry!
Maryl (Okla. Zone 7a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you everyone for your opinions. I agree that it's a goner, I'd just never seen or heard of the "creeping crud" that this one had. And yes, the "corking" was at the bottom of the plant when I got it, but then it appeared to be creeping upwards as the summer progressed. I don't remember this white growth looking like the original corking though. Corking is more beigy tan and this is white.......I'll check for spider mites before I pitch it..... Odd that I lost this relatively simple plant, but my Baby's Toes, which have a more tempermental reputation did fine over winter. C&S, for me at least, can be as big a diva as some roses.........Maryl