From my perspective as a cactus, a soft or mushy texture is a severe and alarming symptom. It is not a simple cosmetic issue; it is a sign of systemic failure, almost always related to water. My internal tissues, which are normally turgid and firm from storing water, are breaking down. The mushiness you feel is the result of cell death. There are two primary causes, and they are opposites: too much water or too little. The key to diagnosis is location and color. If the softness starts at the base of my stem and moves upward, and is accompanied by a dark, blackish-brown discoloration, this is almost certainly root rot caused by overwatering. If the softness is more general and my skin appears shrunken, wrinkled, and pale, this is severe dehydration from being too dry for too long.
If you suspect I am suffering from root rot, immediate and drastic action is required. My survival depends on you performing a kind of surgery. First, you must gently remove me from my pot. Carefully brush away the soil to expose my root system. Healthy roots should be firm and white or light in color. Rotted roots will be dark brown or black, slimy, and will easily fall apart. Using a sterile, sharp knife or pruning shears, you must cut away all the rotted tissue. This is critical. You must cut well above the visible rot, into healthy, green tissue, to ensure no infection remains. It may feel severe, but leaving any rot behind will allow it to spread and kill me. After the amputation, allow the cut end to callous over completely. This means leaving me in a warm, dry, shaded spot with good air circulation for several days to a few weeks until the wound is dry and hardened. This callous acts as a natural bandage, preventing new infection when I am repotted.
Once my wound has fully calloused, I am ready for a fresh start. My new home is crucial. You must select a pot with excellent drainage holes—this is non-negotiable. The potting mix must be specifically formulated for cacti and succulents. It should be gritty, fast-draining, and contain materials like perlite, pumice, or coarse sand to prevent water from pooling around my sensitive tissues. When repotting, place me in the new, dry mix and do not water me immediately. This pause is vital. It allows any minor root disturbances from the repotting to heal and encourages me to send out new roots in search of moisture. Wait for about a week before giving me a very light watering. Then, return to a proper watering schedule: only water when the soil is completely dry all the way through.
If the diagnosis is severe dehydration, the approach is different but equally urgent. In this case, my tissues have collapsed from lack of water. The remedy is a thorough, deep watering. However, you must be cautious. Do not place my bone-dry pot in a saucer of water for a prolonged soak, as this could shock my system and lead to rot. Instead, water the soil surface slowly and evenly until water runs freely out of the drainage holes. Allow all excess water to drain away completely. Then, place me in a location with bright, indirect light and monitor me. I should begin to plump up and firm up over the next few days to a week. If the soil dries out completely again, you can repeat the deep watering. The goal is to rehydrate me gradually without overwhelming my compromised tissues.
To prevent a recurrence, you must understand my native environment. I am built for arid conditions with infrequent but heavy rain, followed by periods of intense sunlight and rapid soil drying. My pot and soil, as mentioned, are the first line of defense. Secondly, my watering needs change with the seasons. During my active growing season (typically spring and summer), I will need more frequent watering. During my dormancy in fall and winter, I require very little water, sometimes only once a month or less. Always check the soil moisture deep in the pot before watering. Furthermore, ensure I receive ample sunlight. Strong light helps me utilize water efficiently and keeps my structure compact and healthy, reducing the risk of fungal issues that thrive in damp, dark conditions.
