Generally cacti are not prone to diseases. However, excessive humidity (high moisture
and poor ventilation) that promote fungal infections cause the stem and roots
to decay. Mold and rot are likely to attack any part of the plant, fungus attack
are deadly.
When roots are infected, there is little of what one can do. Rot fungus will penetrates
the plant’s skin and attacks the tissue, turning it soft and eventually die. On
the other hand, if rot occurs in any other external part of the plant, either
remove the healthy part for cutting if the area of infection is serious, or remove
the infected portion and dust cut wounds with sulphur or anti-fungal powder to
promote healing.
As prevention is better than cure, care should be taken to avoid excessive damp
conditions.
Pests infested cacti leaves ugly marks and tired out look of plant. Luckily, there
are few insect parasites which prey upon cacti. Pests problems can be controlled
by chemical insecticides or natural predator such as ladybird in a greenhouse
environment.
Pests like scale insects can be terminated using alcohol to dissolve waxy covering
that protecting the insect eggs and nicotine permeated water to kill the larvae.
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to ensure the information provided is to its best accuracy.
However, not all the information provided is under the author's control.
Views and opinions stated here are merely for information only.
The author shall not be responsible for any economic or personal losses,
caused directly or indirectly by consumption of such information.
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