My aloe and cactus are getting soft & not green?

Question

I keep them both in indirect sun light, little watering, some fertilizer once every 6 months, proper cacti-blend soil & re-plant/re-pot when root-bound. Why are they getting mushy/soft and lacking green in color?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like they are rotting.

That is usually caused by too much water – especially if they were not getting enough light and are being kept too cool. And since I don’t know how long you have had the plants or their size – I would question the re-potting. Cacti have very shallow root systems and are usually over-potted (pots too big for their root system) which keeps soil too wet for too long.

The same would apply for the aloe plant it sound like it is over-potted, has been over-watered and not getting enough light.

If the aloe has rotted at soil level you will not be able to save it.

If the cactus has rotted at soil level, you can remove it from the pot. Cut off the rotted tissue until you reach fresh green tissue and let it sit out in the air for as many days as you need – for the cut to callus over. Then you can place the cactus on top of moist soil so it can re-root and it’s possible it could be saved.

But keep your watering schedule in check and make sure both plants are getting at least SOME direct sun or very bright light for most of the day.

The less light they are getting the less water they should need.

I had a cactus for ten years that I re-potted once. It grew from about a foot tall to over five feet. I then gave it to my brother who killed it within a month. I don't have any idea what he did to it.

Answer 2

your aloe in not getting enough water.cacti store watter in there leaves.unless it is root rot .out side indirect sun watter about once a week,full sun twice.inside once a week  and  must have good drainage. back off as the temperature changes.the leaves will only get darker with more sunlight,kind of like a sun tan. and don't just move them in to the sun ,move them slowly so they don't burn.my aloe are BIG and every year I have to transplant them.so many I give them away.take one of the pups and plant it into another pot give it more light and watter and see what happens. you will be pleasantly surprised.

Answer 3

Keep all of your tropical plants in a warm position in your home.

But if all of its growing requirements have been met then it sounds like a microscopic fungus. Fungus is always attacking plants. It just needs to be able to fight it off. Try this....one capful of hydrogen peroxide in a 12 ounce glass of water. Water the plant thoroughly with this mixture. Plants don't live on water, they live on air and nutrients. Water is used as a "carrier" for them. Sometimes water compacts areas of the soil and suffocates the oxygen-lacking roots. The hydrogen peroxide will replace the water in those compacted areas and the air trapped in the hydrogen peroxide will come out breathing new life into your plants. This will allow your plants roots to fight off fungal infections.  

Answer 4

  Maybe needs more sun or less water.  I have a big cactus I brought inside before due to an approaching hurricane and it got that way and top part died.  I thought it might have been over watered.  I was watering it when I watered my other plants and outside I seldom ever water it.  It was over 7 ft tall and now is only 3 or 4 ft tall after the top part died.