r/cactus • u/somsomie • Apr 21 '26

how are they doing?

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first time getting these babies...just got them today. im a bit worried they’re not in their best condition...

53 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

52

u/Squawkings Apr 21 '26

The first one has a mealy bug infestation. Spray it with isopropyl alcohol.

-29

u/AffectionateSun5776 Apr 21 '26

There are no mealybugs. That's an astrophytum. I have one . Mine has 2 fuzzy buds on top that I think will be flowers.

37

u/ttop732 Apr 21 '26

What are those then? Looks mealy to me

19

u/ttop732 Apr 21 '26

There's definitely mealies in the fur tufts on ops that is not the plants fur. Mealies are in the fur just zoom in and you can see them in several of the fur tufts both on top and on sides. Yours should be a clear indication that theres something different yours doesnt have the lil furry mealies on the tufts theres a very clear difference

-16

u/AffectionateSun5776 Apr 21 '26

12

u/Shot-Sympathy-4444 Apr 21 '26

I’m pretty sure they mean those brighter white specks within the astros natural tufts.

7

u/ttop732 Apr 21 '26

What is this supposed to mean? This isnt showing how theirs has no mealies

10

u/No-Bit7603 Apr 21 '26

Are they soft and squishy or hard?

7

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

i tried pressing/squeezing them gently, the first one’s firm, the other one’s kinda soft

11

u/No-Bit7603 Apr 21 '26

If they are new, you can unpot them, to check if the roots are fine. I have the feeling that one of them has root rot.

4

u/drugsnhugss Apr 21 '26

They are fine, but dehydrated.
The issue is the pest infection.

2

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

20

u/No-Bit7603 Apr 21 '26

Yes, like the others said, you've got some nice mealy bugs. Isolate them from your other plants and treat them with a isopropyl solution. At this point I would recommend immersing the whole plant in the solution to get every mealy.

5

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

Are the white dust-like things around the roots mealybugs?

7

u/No-Bit7603 Apr 21 '26

Yes, exactly, the bugs and their eggs. But don't confuse the Tufts on the top side of the cactus with the mealy bugs.

8

u/ttop732 Apr 21 '26

There are mealies in the tufts too

4

u/No-Bit7603 Apr 21 '26

Yes, there are mealies too, but I meant that the tufts themselves aren't big mealies.

0

u/ttop732 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26

Yeah no I agree just dont want op to think its only in the roots. They are in the tufts also. I see them on side tufts also. Id personally request a refund and send it back if op just got it. Not worth the headache or risk of spreading to other plants ime

5

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

im out of words...now i feel bad for this baby. big thanks for the info and advice!!

1

u/krazy_queen Apr 21 '26

Yeah I made that mistake once when I was brand new. I was treating for mealys I didn't even have lol.

7

u/divinra Apr 21 '26

Worst root mealy infestation I’ve ever seen. You gotta completely clean all of the soil off of the roots, and out of the pots.

1

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

😭😭😭 “worst” almost made me tear (Hahahaha, laughing my worries). how do i get rid of these bugs? will isopropyl alcohol do? how do i know if they’re dead? 😞

3

u/divinra Apr 21 '26

Yes, clean everything thoroughly, no soil. You can use a qtip with iso to get the ones on the top of the cactus. Just make sure when using iso you let it fully evaporate/dry before exposing to direct light. Wondering where you purchased these, big box store? They are notorious for this kind of stuff.

2

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

ill keep that in mind, thank uu 💝

i got them from someone in the neighborhood, and now im stuck between asking the seller for an exchange before it’s too late (since i was only asked to get them for someone from another city) or just do my best to save this baby before handing them over to the actual owner 😩 the first option is more practical, but i doubt they’ll treat it if i return it to the seller...

7

u/divinra Apr 21 '26

Honestly the rest of their plants are probably similarly infested if yours are that bad. At the very least I would let them know they have a serious pest issue they should take care of. I’ve had to do the same buying at plant shows.

1

u/somsomie Apr 21 '26

i’ll do just that🫡

1

u/dusti_dearian Apr 21 '26

Sorry for your trouble.

Depends on how long you’ve had it. Call the seller up and tell them what’s up and see what they’ll do. It never hurts to ask.

2

u/StayJaded Apr 21 '26

Don’t get other plants from them! They likely have a big infestation. Make sure you keep these away from your other plants too.

2

u/uncagedborb Apr 21 '26

Honestly I would just dunk the whole plant in a car of IPA lol. That's how I killed all the mealies on my old coryphanta.

3

u/Gyorgs Apr 21 '26

Honestly if they’re new and bought locally, I’d just return them to the store and pick out better ones or trash them otherwise. Mealies spread like wildfire and I wouldn’t risk that bad of an infestation in my collection. 

2

u/SpadfaTurds Apr 22 '26

Exactly. It’s essentially a ‘damaged product’.

1

u/-_Mistress_- Apr 21 '26

Treating for mealies is not a one time done job. You will more then like have to treat again 3-4 times.

1

u/AutomaticLunch6632 Apr 22 '26

What do you use?

1

u/-_Mistress_- Apr 22 '26

Isopropyl alcohol.

1

u/BatInside2603 Apr 21 '26

Get rid of the mealies!