Cuts and scabs on cactus?

[iLoveCacti]

Hello all, Happy Monday!

I was weeding around my cactuses and I noticed that one in particular looks like it has cuts or scabs on it, and it also has a brownish rusty looking patch.
I also don’t know if this is relevant, but I’ve found this baby cactus on the ground behind the cinder block planter. Aren’t the pups supposed to stay on the cactus pad? Please advise, thank you!

 

[cpp gardener]

The lighter markings on the pad is scarring from physical damage, like spines or pruners. The brown spot(s) look like they could be a fungal or bacterial infection. You can cut out the infected pat and let it air dry, maybe put an umbrella over it to block rain, or use copper or sulfur as disease control.
The 'pup' is a fruit that fell off and sprouted a new growth.

 

[iLoveCacti]

The lighter markings on the pad is scarring from physical damage, like spines or pruners. The brown spot(s) look like they could be a fungal or bacterial infection. You can cut out the infected pat and let it air dry, maybe put an umbrella over it to block rain, or use copper or sulfur as disease control.
The 'pup' is a fruit that fell off and sprouted a new growth.

Thank you! I’ll get some copper fungicide ASAP. In the meantime, I cut them off. A woman on YouTube said you can seal cuts with cinnamon after you propagate them, presumably you can seal them with cinnamon for curing these cuts too?

For future reference, where does the fungus come from? It’s worst on the rightmost cacti and the leftmost cacti don’t have any.

Also for some extra context, I took these pads off a cactus that fell into the street during the last hurricane, so I don’t know much about the health of the parent plant. {Is that considered stealing or cleaning up? }

 

[cpp gardener]

Yes cinnamon can be used on the areas you cut the fungus out of. The fungus spores are air-borne so they're always around waiting for an opportunity.
I think it's cleaning-up and right neighborly of you!

 

[iLoveCacti]

Yes cinnamon can be used on the areas you cut the fungus out of. The fungus spores are air-borne so they're always around waiting for an opportunity.
I think it's cleaning-up and right neighborly of you!

Thank you! I wasn’t stealing because I’d been eyeing the cactus for months…. I was, uh…. Doing my part as a Floridian to clear hurricane debris!

 

[iLoveCacti]

Was the cinnamon eaten? One of the cactus seems to have scabbed over the cut, but the other one has a complete hole missing now.

 

[cpp gardener]

I have never seen that happen before! I think you're right about what happened. It will heal, but the hole will remain.

As far as the source I'd say "Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket"! At least that's your story and you're stickin' to it.

 

[iLoveCacti]

I have never seen that happen before! I think you're right about what happened. It will heal, but the hole will remain.

As far as the source I'd say "Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket"! At least that's your story and you're stickin' to it.

I was so surprised! I was really careful not to cut too deeply into the plant when I removed the fungus. Hopefully no more fungus comes #floridaproblems.

Makes me want to move someplace with no humidity and no bugs.

 

[cpp gardener]

My Dad was in the Navy and got stationed in Mayport/Jacksonville for a year when I was 8. The humidity was brutal compared to San Diego CA, but the bugs and critters were great fun! I caught a bunch of Sliders and Cooters and 1 mean Snapping turtle. Other than getting stung by a scorpion, the bugs were okay.

 

[iLoveCacti]

My Dad was in the Navy and got stationed in Mayport/Jacksonville for a year when I was 8. The humidity was brutal compared to San Diego CA, but the bugs and critters were great fun! I caught a bunch of Sliders and Cooters and 1 mean Snapping turtle. Other than getting stung by a scorpion, the bugs were okay.

Oy va voi. I was today years old when I learned we have scorpions in Florida. :O Glad you all are okay.

 

[iLoveCacti]

Update:

It seems snails have been eating it. I knocked a few off and there were white spots underneath it. I sprinkled some salt over the top of the cacti but I ran out, I’ll put a salt ring around them ASAP.

 

[YumYum]

If you are going to do that, put the salt on a piece of cardboard or paper in a line or something so you can take it back up later.

 

[cpp gardener]

Good idea. Putting salt on the ground can burn plant roots and make it difficult to grow things. A better solution is iron phosphate-based snail bait. It kills the snails and doesn't affect the soil. Completely safe for humans and pets.

 

[iLoveCacti]

I really don’t know what to do anymore. They have white spots on them now. I remember a coworker telling me egg shells also protect plants, but the cactus with the pot I’ve put the most egg shells into has got scabs on it and these strange white spots.

Is this cactus done? should I just take these two out? The ones in the other pot look okay. Also if it helps, I never water from the top, only the base, but a few weeks ago, the 24th of May {I add waterings on my calendar, if peradventure with your help I can save my plants} but it rained for like 4 days after that.