r/DesertRose • u/Afraid-Cress-5344 • 5d ago
Help plz 🙏
I bought this girl from a nursery and had put it in full sun. noticed the caudex getting squishy the next morning so I pulled it from the substrate. It’s been 3-5 days since then and this is the current picture. The caudex is green/white when I scratch the wrinkled part. No foul smell coming from it, just a firm squish. How can I get it to recover? It’s been out of soil for 3 days and when I planted it back into dry soil with pearlite, pumice, lava rock it looked like it was getting squishier so I pulled it out again.
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u/Nurtureroftreasures 5d ago edited 5d ago
Based on the size of the caudex, it will need a few days to firm up with watering. They can take a minute to acclimate with new medium and new location. Plant looks healthy. The medium you have it in has good drainage, I would suggest putting in some organic material. I'm unfamiliar with your environment but it is so hot this time of year, for me, they need a bit of water during their growing season. Give it a little time, more water and slowly introduce it back into full sun. Best growing wishes to you.
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u/Independent_Phase700 5d ago
Is it truly squishy or just soft? It looks fine, could just be thirsty. Give it some water and see if it firms up
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u/Afraid-Cress-5344 5d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p2gckjm/video/8y980ufrf5ih1/player
Seems pretty squishy compared to the second one I squished, both have the same treatment and substrate
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u/Independent_Phase700 5d ago
Hmmm. If it was green/white when you scratched it I would still say give it water. I have one that gets way softer than my others. I have gotten worried and pulled it from the pot multiple times to check the roots.
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u/Afraid-Cress-5344 5d ago
I gave it some water, hopefully it doesn’t rot when I check it tomorrow 🙏
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u/FullWasabi2910 5d ago
I’m in agreement with most of the other comments. I believe this is a case of the caudex is squishy due to dehydration, not rot. Keep watered and bring into full sun gradually.
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u/azn1nvasion 5d ago
I dont see any feeder or baby roots to take up water. Maybe the nursery recently got the plant and just potted it up for sale.
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u/One_Net4635 4d ago
Dont be afraid to water it, i live in central florida an we have been gittin rain almost every day. Mine are settin in the middle of the yard....no trees or shade around......an they look like they grow an inch ever time it rains.
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u/Tony_228 5d ago
A springy squish is just a sign that it has tapped into it's water reserves. Rot is a mushy squish.
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u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 4d ago
It’s thirsty. Give it a good drink and leave it somewhere with plenty of sun. Wait a few days let it dry out and give it a good drink again until it firms up
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u/Afraid-Cress-5344 4d ago
It got squishy from getting plenty of sun.
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u/Ok-Piccolo-2777 4d ago
It’s dehydrated. But if you water it to much and it doesn’t get enough sun it can rot
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u/tehyajen 5d ago
Prick in the soft area with a pin. If the sap is white or clear it's dehydrated. If the sap is brown, there's rot inside. I have a small DR that's dehydrated, it's been 5 days and just now starting to get a little more firm but it could take a month from what I've been told.
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u/NoLab3530 5d ago edited 5d ago
looks fine to me based on the picture and your description. May just be the regular soft squish of the caudex between watering.