Orange rot/rust beginning on the skin. WARNING: Some viewers may find distressing

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Just wondering if you guys have had any reoccurrence of the
dreaded rot?

My first three grafts have all now got the orange rot. Three Lophophora
diffusa. Very annoying.

I have a load more grafts coming up - I really don't want to see them rot
too.

I have moved two of them into my greenhouse* and will probably move the
third tomorrow.

I have tried both mancozeb and yates anti rot (Potassium phosphite) should I try something
else?

* You might be wondering why I would transfer sick plans
to my greenhouse. Well... I'm hoping to save these
plants - and it’s too cold outside. They are away from the
rest of the cacti as well. - It gets hot in there too... I'll
burn the fungus off!

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

My new theory is to repot the plants and use a lawn fungicide with Thiophanate
Methyl as an active ingredient.

and mancozeb

and Potassium phosphite

if that doesn't work I will trim off all the roots - repot and apply chems again.

Hey WT.

I ended up repotting all my grafted plants ! First I took off the pot and discarded all the soil, washed the roots with tap water and trimmed them back a bit. I then repotted them all with a high% mineral based mix. The pereskiopsis is loving the mix which I was surprised about and all my plants have shaken the rot and are growing nicely. I think the trick is to keep the pots as dry as possible whilst cold, keeping in mind peres do need just a little water fairly regulary to survive.

All were sprayed with a solution (water) of Mancozweb, Sulphor and Copper and then allowed to dry out in the sun. I potted them all back up and put them in the grow room, they have been doing just great after this.

I still don't know what causes this type of rot but the above fixed it for me.

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

hey ! thats great HN,

I will give it a go - I have all my pereskiopsis in premium potting mix - thinking peres like it rich and wet...

I will cut some cacti mix with some non organic material. and lots of chemicals - shock and awe style. its good to think they can be saved. I honestly thought there was no real hope.

I had mine in a organic high % peat based mix and I think this really contributed to the problem. Now they are basically in my normal Astro mix and they are doing well. I just wanted to save them, but the pereskiopsis proved quite hardy and adaptive to the new mix.

Good luck.

Hey I just thought. I will post a pic in a few days of my plants that survived so you can check them out.

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 233 Location : Bendigo

I havent read through this thread, but what i saw on WT's Loph, my Opuntia species has the exact same thing on a heap of its pads :S:S:S

MichaelCactus,

I wouldn't worry too much re opuntia. They are susceptible to rot but it rarely spreads. Just keep it in an area with plenty of air circulation and don't get it wet for the next 2 or 3 weeks and it will kick on in spring.

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 233 Location : Bendigo

Ok im VERY WORRIED now. I had a look, my Astrophytum Myrio CV. Hakuun has the dots and etc on it! Arggh.

Joined : 16 May 2008 Posts : 194 Location : Canberra

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 233 Location : Bendigo

ill try wt Wink

Yeah we will need pics Michael. Thats a fantastic and beautiful CV you don't want to loose it. Is it grafted ? Hylo I guess ?

Joined : 24 Jun 2008 Posts : 233 Location : Bendigo

I will upload them tomorrow, i just got home tonite and im tired.
Yes it is grafted on a Hylo, which to me looks a little out dated and ive been thinking of rooting the scion down.
I noticed at the bottome of the plant, it has what looks like old dryed up "rust spots" but it might just be wooden corking :S