Brown Spots On Coral Cactus

Brown Spots On Coral Cactus (6 Main Causes & Solutions!)

When considering a unique, beautiful, and low-maintenance plant for your indoor or outdoor space, go for the coral cactus. Surprisingly, coral cactus is a species of succulent, even though it shares a name with the cactus plant. But despite its striking appearance, you may begin to notice brown spots on your coral cactus. This lovely houseplant is actually two succulents that have been connected.

All plants experience different problems at one time or another, including leaf discoloration. But what causes brown spots on coral cactus?

Brown Spots On Coral Cactus

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Most of the time, brown patches on coral cactus occur as a result of root rot from inappropriate watering. Other causes include pests, over-exposure to light, and insufficient light.

Fortunately, there’s a high chance that the spots will not spread since they are not diseases. However, you may not be able to revive the affected plant tissue.

Several factors can cause brown patches on your beautiful coral cactus plant. But without examining these factors one after another, the plant’s condition may get worse. In this article, we will discuss the possible reasons and the solutions to them.

Read further to learn more!

6 Possible Causes of Brown Spots On Coral Cactus

While there are different reasons your coral cactus can have brown patches, we will discuss 6 of them.

1. Inadequate Light

Generally, plants need light to grow perfectly, and the coral cactus is not an exception. If you place the plant where it doesn’t get enough light, there will be a brown spot problem. 

At first, you will notice that the cactus is growing toward the source of light nearby. This is all the sign you need to place the plant in a place with enough light.

But if the light is reaching the place where the cactus is, then it is probably far below in the soil. It will be impossible for the plant to receive light, even if you place it close to a sunny spot.

Simply repot and add more soil to the plant to bring it close to the top part of the pot.

2. Too Much Exposure to Light

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Although inadequate light can cause problems for your cactus, excess sunlight is not ideal either. Constantly exposing your cactus to too much light can cause sunburn, resulting in brown spots. 

Sometimes, you may begin to see spots that look rusty or reddish on the plant. There’s no doubt that the coral cactus is suffering as a result of being in the sun regularly.

First, introduce the cactus to the sun slowly, especially if they’ve always been indoors. You can also change the position of the plant to a less sunny spot to fix this problem.

3. Overwatering

As with sunlight, water plays a major role in the healthy growth of plants. But the coral cactus does not need lots of water to thrive. Even if you under-water your cactus, it will thrive.

But if you keep watering the plant with lots of water, it will start to rot, which can cause brown patches.

Once you notice there’s too much water in your cactus soil, do not add more water to it. An effective way to know if the plant needs water is to dip your finger into the soil. If the soil feels moist, it means the plant doesn’t need watering at that moment. 

Besides, you can also check the weight of the pot by slightly lifting it. If it doesn’t feel heavy, it means there’s little or no water in the soil.

To prevent the problem of overwatering your cactus, use a pot that’s a little bit bigger than the cactus roots. The larger the pot, the more soil, and water are required for the plant to grow.

4. Pests

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Another possible reason why there are brown spots on your coral cactus is the infestation of pests. Mealybugs, scale insects, and spider mites are some of the pests that may attack your cactus plant. 

As soon as you notice these insects on your plant, get rid of them with a cotton swab you’ve put in alcohol. Neem oil is also effective in eliminating these insects from the affected cactus.

It is important to note that preventing pests from attacking your plants is cheaper and safer than getting rid of them. Monitor the coral cactus as often as possible to take quick action when you notice a pest infestation.

5. Corking

As your coral cactus increases in age, it may begin to show signs of corking, which may include brown spots. Corking is a natural process that occurs in mature cacti and succulents. Sometimes, you may notice your cactus is changing from green to brown. 

In the case of corking, the brown spots on the cactus are limited to the base only.

Although it is impossible to stop your cactus from experiencing corking, you can delay the process. Avoid exposing your cactus to extreme temperatures and light levels to allow it to age slowly.

6. Root Rot

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One of the most common causes of brown patches on coral cactus is root rot. Another sign you’ll notice in the plant is that the area around the brown spots will be mushy. There’s hardly anything you can do to restore a rotting cactus.

Therefore, it is best to start a new plant from the unaffected parts of the rotting cactus. To be on the safe side, get some new soil and a pot to plant the healthy part of the coral cactus.

See a similar post: Prayer Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the possible causes of brown spots on your coral cactus, it’s time to take action. But it is better to identify the particular issue causing the problem to enable you to resolve it effectively and permanently. 

While coral cactus is easy to care for, you should always pay attention to the plant regularly to keep it happy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is My Coral Cactus Rotting?

Several factors can be responsible for rotting in coral cactus. But the most common ones are diseases, fungus, or watering damaged parts of the plant. 

When a coral cactus is inadequate in an area, fungus and diseases tend to attack it. Watering the affected part of the plant will expose it to more harm as it will start to rot internally.

Prune off the rotting part of your cactus once you notice it to prevent it from spreading to the healthy parts.

What Does A Dehydrated Cactus Look Like?

If your cactus is not getting enough water, it may begin to shrivel, fade in color, and become extremely dry. But there’s nothing to worry about when you notice these signs in your plants. Just water it moderately and the cactus will come back to life within a short time. 

It’s not as if underwatering the plant is ideal, but it is better than overwatering it.

How Do I Know My Cactus Is Happy?

Usually, a happy cactus will continue to grow new spines, have a deep green color, have a good root system, and have new growth.

Other signs you’ll notice in a happy cactus are that it will stand upright, produce flowers, and have firm skin.

Since you know how a happy and healthy cactus should be, it will be easy to identify an unhappy one.

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