wrinkled cacti problems?

[fasid]

Hi everybody,

What a great resource this place is...

I have a san pedro (peruvianus?) that was given to me several years ago. It initially suffered several cat attacks (my cat actually bit the top off of it when it was 4" tall).

For the past couple weeks I've noticed that the flesh between the ridges is puckered and wrinkled at the base. There also seems to be clearly defined yellowish patches around some of the spine pads.

For the past year it seemed to be doing alright, had it outdoors last summer, brought it in and by Christmas I noticed it had started to branch out at the base.

I watered it a couple times over the winter, and in the past month have watered it sparingly twice (both times the soil was completely dry). It is located in front of a bright, cool window.

Has anybody seen this before and should I worry? I'm afraid that if I wait and it turns out to be rot I won't be able to salvage the cactus.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[skoeip]

I'm also thinking its a Peruvian torch because of the flame colored spines at the top, possibly a hybrid... tricho's are a pain to identify correct

as to the problem, I'm not sure what is causing this, but I can give a guess. its shrinking at the spot where your cat attacked the top right? perhaps its because all the grow strength of the cactus is directed to the new branch and that causes the upper branch to stop growing. possibly the only way to save the upper cactus is by cutting the upper part and treat it as a cutting. letting the cut part callus over en reroot it in some almost dry sandy soil. you should send a pm to goran, he's most knowledgeable here about cacti.

 

[Mr.Smith]

.

 

[GOD]

I think anal aplication would prove it to be VERY psychoactive.........

 

[Ultima]

if your worried about it possibly dying, you can always cut it just above where its wrinkled, and reroot it. it looks like a peruvian torch.. but i have never seen black spikes coming out of a trichocereus plant before. (i could be wrong)

 

[Mr.Smith]

the wrinkle is where it was cut then re-joined i think

 

[GOD]

That sounds / looks right to me .

 

[Mr.Smith]

they are Cereus i think, forbesii or jamacaru maybe, perhaps Lemaireocereus pruinosus, or a hybrid (likely) or....

 

[fasid]

The spines are actually brown for the most part, with the new growth producing orange spines. The photo doesn't do them justice. I received it from someone who grew several dozen of them from seed. He called them "san pedro..."

The cat attack actually happened several years ago, when my cat bit the top off of it... The top of the cactus (only 4" tall at the time) was so mangled that I sliced it off to prevent infection. The 'seam' you can see is that slice. One of the spine pads around the edge started growing and eventually 'sliding over' and crowding out the the slice scar.

Well, I tried a single really good soaking and after a week the cactus is looking pretty good. I guess it needed more water than I gave it over the winter, about once a month!

The yellow discolouration around the spine pads and on the ridges is still there, though...

Thanks everybody for your comments.

Greg