this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2023
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Houseplants

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I've had this cactus for a few years, and for a while it's had a problem where it grows so tall that it can't stand up. You can see in the photo that I have it tied to some stakes to keep it upright - if not for those it would literally uproot itself in under a day.

Why might this be? I don't know all that much about houseplants. I water this cactus (and my other cactuses, which are not the same species) once every two weeks, about 1 to 1.5 cups of water. I use some cactus fertilizer like twice a year, pretty inconsistently. It lives perpetually indoors with those three light rods visible in the picture as its sole light source (On for 12 hours a day).

Given how little I know about proper plant care, I'm sure none of that is ideal - but is any of it the obvious culprit for why this happens? What should I be doing better?

Thanks for any help.

P.S. Those two nodules just above the lower string are brand new, and it's never branched out like that before - what should I expect them to become? Round bulbs? Branches? Flowers? Nothing at all? The tip top of the cactus being white is also very recent.

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[–] ladymethis 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am not sure. Maybe you could gradually lower the stakes/support over time so it can adjust?

[–] zkfcfbzr 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Will do πŸ™‚ Better safe than sorry, this cactus is my favorite plant. And now I feel like I've been teasing it for two years...

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

It’s going to be so relieved!