The Bunny Ear cactus is a beautiful and elegant plant, but it also has its limits. If it does not receive the care that is required, it will die. However, this article will teach you how to take care of your plant and how to save your favorite Bunny Ear cactus if it has already turned yellow or withered.
Usually, a problem first manifests itself with the yellowing or browning of smaller parts of the tissue on the cactus’s body.
Errors in Care
As with any living thing, if the conditions are not right, the cactus may develop problems. When the environment is too moist or too dry, or if the culture is incorrect, it will show signs of stress in its appearance. If this happens to your bunny ear cactus, you should try to correct the problem as soon as possible. They show some problems like:
- yellowish discoloration and soft plant parts.
- reddish discoloration.
- thin, weak, and light shoots.
- the premature dropping of buds.
When bunny ear turns yellow and wrinkled, it is either because of frost or because there is too much water. If you move the cactus to a place where it won’t get frosted, the damage will at least not be increased. If a cactus has too much water, you can change its substrate and make sure there isn’t too much water next year.
When you see your bunny ear turning yellow and wrinkled, it may be a sign that it’s time to change its substrate. Cacti have tough roots and are very resistant, so you should never pull the whole plant out of the ground; instead, cut the top off at soil level and remove the dead parts from around the roots.
How to Save a Yellowing Cactus?
Here are some easy solutions to apply if you see that your cactus is turning yellow.
Be Careful with Watering
“ Bunny Ear Cacti don’t like to have wet feet, and giving your cactus too much water will cause the plant to yellow and the roots to rot.”
If your cactus is turning yellow, the problem could simply be too much water. Cacti are desert plants at heart, so they need dry soil. If you over-water, the roots of a cactus will rot and it will die. To fix this problem, you’ll want to let it dry out a bit before watering it again. Place your plant in a dry area with lots of light for two days to let the soil air out. Then you can start watering again normally.
Check the Pot (And Roots) of a Yellow Cactus
First off, let’s look at those roots! Healthy cactus roots are white and fleshy; if they are brown, soft, or slimy then your plant has been overwatered! The damaged roots should be cut off with a sharp knife, and the parts left undamaged should be replanted in fresh soil. When re-potting, don’t water for a couple of days after repotting, to allow the roots to heal.
Choose a suitable, slightly larger pot with several drainage holes (and without a cup). If you don’t have a special succulent mix, you can combine 1 part sand with 2 parts traditional potting soil.
Reduce Your Watering Sequences
Bunny ear cacti have low water needs. These needs can of course vary according to the context in which they evolve. But in general, they do not need much water and will quickly suffer if overwatered. The frequency of watering is therefore a key to ensuring the health of your cactus.
If they are grown indoors, you can water them once every two weeks, or even every 3 weeks in winter.
Outdoors, this will of course depend on soil moisture and rainfall.
Provide Proper Nutrients
“Like other plants, the non-toxic bunny ear cactus need nutrients to grow. Good nutrition makes a plant stronger and better able to resist disease and other problems.”
Potted plants need more fertilizer than outdoor plants because the soil they grow in is a closed system that is never refreshed. Choose a balanced fertilizer for your cactus and dilute it.
How to Identify a Sick Cactus?
There are many symptoms that can indicate whether a cactus is sick. The most common symptom is the yellowing of the plant, which can be due to various causes such as too little light, too much water, or incorrect fertilization. However, it is not the only possible symptom, as your cactus could also become withered, brown, or have white spots (which are then synonymous with parasites…).
When your cactus is sick, it’s up to you to judge what treatments are most appropriate. Some people would say that the yellow color of a cactus is due to fungus, others will say it’s a result of the light… It’s important not to rush into any solutions before properly identifying the cause of your cactus’ sickness. The good news is: that no matter what type of sickness your cactus has, there are many ways to treat it!
Conclusion As
we have seen, that there are several causes that cause the yellowing of the cactus. The solutions mentioned are often easy to apply and force you to observe your plants better.