Story: Garden Revolution - Save a dying Cactus
Episode: 5
Presenter: Rayne Ang
Air Date: 2nd September

Rayne performs cactus surgery to bring a dying, rotting cactus back to life.

• It’s important to routinely observe your cactus to look for signs of rotting. Large, brown patches around the arms or stem, or else a distinct rotting smell are larger tell-tale signs of cactus rot or damage.
• When you notice signs of decay, prepare with a clean bread knife (Or clean a bread knife with rubbing alcohol) and some rooting hormone powder. If that’s unavailable, cinnamon powder is a suitable substitute.
• Chop away your decaying portions by sawing with the knife, right at the base of the rotting limb.. If your stem is rotting, chop above the rotting areas, ensuring the rot does not remain in the stub.
• Coat the open wound with rooting hormone powder and re-pot into a fresh pot. Cacti prefer drier conditions, so free-draining soil and perlite with porous conditions are best.