It was named this because it grows flat like it was run over..I read that I can spray the mold with alcohol and/or cut it off. I am thinking that I should start it over with the top portions. It is looking corked and ranger looking al over.

I would use the Bayer 3 in 1 to kill the mealies. It works and kills all over the plant, roots to every stem. Cut new growth to insure keeping the cactus going but the mail stem may be too gone. I use sulfur mixed with water and spray the area. The stuff sold for acid loving plants. Works for fungus.

I use Bayer on all my plants before I bring them in for the winter and again in late spring to keep bugs off.

This stuff will kill bees visiting the flowers so I keep from outside plants and remove most flowers from mine.

wantonamara, you've probably already seen it, but rina started a great thread on beheading succulents

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4611851/beheading-plants?n=58

Others put in their examples as well. If you haven't seen it, could be worth a brouse. I just checked and it doesn't have examples of cacti. I thought it did.

Thank you. I do know how to behead plants and start from cuttings. These are rooted cuttings. Stush, Thank you also. I was thinking about using 3 in one. These are out door plants and was worried about the bees. Maybe a fungicide and alcohol?. Sulfur,... interesting. I have some.

Wantonamara check this Video:) out. She talks about Cereus, but I'm sure it could happen to Opuntia. I wonder if it's the same thing:)? Especially because it's on the corking.

Kara, Not the same thing but interesting because I do have cereus and have never seen that, but I will keep my eye out for that. I wonder if it is due to growing in a cool damp area versus Texas.

I've never seen it either. I'm sure climate has something to do with it. She lives in Ireland so she's probably always having to struggle with a cool damp climate. She has a really nice conservatory in her home too. I watch her videos fairly regularly, and she's looking to move. I bet a million bucks she's gonna miss that sun parlor;).

The Bayer 3 in 1 has a life span of about 3 months. I don't think they are going to bloom during this time. Worse case, you could always remove the blooms if you should get some early. In about six months you should be free to let bloom and no harm to the bees.

These have never bloomed for me.

Mara, My brother has very large paddle cactus that blooms with a yellow water lily type flowers. No ID. But grows very well. Next time I'm down to S.C. to visit him, I can send you a few paddles. Paddles are anywhere between 12 to 16 inches diameter. Has those tiny red needles at the base of the larger white ones. Those tiny red needles are the worse thing to happen to you if you get them on you. Very hard to remove and causes red pimples that take months to go away. I have the smaller hardy ones in my yard up north. Same except for the size.

No , don't bother. I have too many opuntia and the eastern ones do not do well here. I do have O . Gomei which is large. I also have a O . robusta which is large also. At one point I had 78 varieties of Opuntias and cylindropuntias. I have gotten rid or killed many of them and not replaced them.Road kill is actually a Consolea rubescent, a relative of opuntia.

The more I look at your pic the more I think if this guy was mine I would start over. You've got some nice babies on top.

But it's not mine so who really cares;).

I am thinking of cutting and rooting it on the tall central column above the corking and mold..It won't be the first time that I have cut this one down and done a redo.