Why is My Cactus Falling Over?

Like other types of plants, cacti always seek sunlight and this can lead to leaning and even twisting, spoiling their image and even, in the most serious cases, putting the health of the plant at risk. If you want to discover how to straighten a cactus correctly, choose the most appropriate technique to straighten your crooked cactus. We will also explain the causes that usually cause this problem, since in most cases there is a problem.

Cacti, unlike other types of plants, are a bit more complicated when it comes to working, so remember that you should wear gloves to avoid punctures or wounds. Another important detail to consider is the “natural” form that our cactus must acquire as we can find different species in really amazing ways as they can grow crooked or even at ground level.

Why is my cactus falling over?

As we have anticipated, cacti have a tendency to look for sunlight, which can cause them to acquire an unwanted shape looking for a way to obtain it. It is important to know that a crooked cactus can sometimes be unrecoverable, because the later we start straightening our cactus, the more complicated it will be due to the hardness of its body.

In addition to a cactus growing crooked or already quite crooked, we may encounter another problem, which is that the cactus grows thin or has a thinner part. This problem is also due to the lack of sunlight and is a clear indication that the cactus needs to live in a sunnier place.

What to do if my cactus is falling over?

The first thing to do is assess whether other plants are stealing its light and, if so, place the cactus in a place where it has no competition for light and can grow properly. You will need to provide a suitable location for it, transplanting it if necessary, to where the sun’s rays reach. Occasionally you can rotate the pot to promote straight growth.

You may face different levels of difficulty when straightening a cactus, since it will not be the same to do it with a young specimen as with one that has been crooked for many years. If your cactus is young you must place a suitable stake for its size.  This must be well placed, since it will grow following the direction in which you have oriented it, therefore, you should place the stakes straight and parallel to the cactus, joining them with some type of tape or rope.

You must correctly choose the material with which to join the cactus and the stake. There are different products on the market for this function, although you can also use another type of support for your cactus. However, it is important that it cannot cause damage or injury to the cactus. Another thing to keep in mind when holding the cactus with the stake is that as it grows in width you will have to loosen the grip a bit, otherwise it can cause damage or remain inside the cactus.

If your cactus has already aged a certain years and has been crooked for a long time, place the stakes in the best way you can and you will have to guide it and move the stakes little by little as it corrects its shape.

In the most radical cases you can cut a straight piece from the tip of the cactus and plant it directly to the ground. In most cases the cactus takes root and you have a new opportunity to have a straightened cactus, although it should be your last option, since most cacti take quite a few years to grow.