Cactus Base Wrinkling and Shrinkage
The wrinkling and shrinkage at the base of a cactus is a common early warning sign during the maintenance process of this typical succulent plant. This seemingly sudden morphological change is often closely related to the three major maintenance factors: watering, temperature, and sunlight. This article will systematically comb through the key points of preventing and treating cactus shrinkage through the dual perspectives of cause analysis and solution.
I. Root Lesions Caused by Imbalance in Water Management
1.1 The Harmful Mechanism of Overwatering
The unique water storage structure of the cactus gives it super drought resistance, but 90% of shrinkage cases are caused by excessive watering. When the soil moisture content exceeds the critical value of 30%, the capillary roots will start to rot within 48 hours, leading to the interruption of water conduction and causing the bottom cells to shrink due to lack of water, forming wrinkles. Long-term waterlogging can also trigger the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, causing soft rot disease in the cactus body.
1.2 Scientific Water Supplement Plan
Adopt the "Three Observations Judgment Method": observe the season (spring and autumn 15 days/time, summer 10 days/time, winter 30 days/time), the medium (the watering interval for ceramic pots is 3-5 days shorter than plastic pots), and the environment (when the humidity in air-conditioned rooms is less than 40%, spray to increase humidity). If root rot is found, immediately switch to a mixed matrix of red jade soil and deer fertilizer soil (2:1), combined with unglazed pots with a diameter less than 2cm of the cactus body.
II. Physiological Stress Caused by Sudden Temperature Changes
2.1 Characteristics of Low Temperature Frostbite
When the ambient temperature remains below 8℃ for 72 consecutive hours, the cactus activates a dormant protection mechanism, causing the cell fluid concentration to increase and the volume to shrink. At this time, the base wrinkles are often accompanied by transparent frost spots, which are different from the uniform wrinkles caused by simple water deficiency. Special attention should be paid to the 10℃ temperature difference zone between the window sill and the radiator in the northern heating areas.
2.2 Progressive Temperature Regulation
Start spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate (800 times liquid) every half month from autumn to enhance the flexibility of the cell wall. In winter, adopt the "Three-layer Protection Method": place a 3cm layer of perlite as an insulating layer at the bottom, cover the plant with a double-layer translucent thermal insulation cover (inner layer non-woven fabric + outer layer PE film), and install plant growth lights at night to maintain a baseline of 12℃.
III. Epidermal Damage Caused by Sudden Changes in Light Intensity
3.1 Principle of Dehydration from Sunburn
The intensity of sunlight at noon in summer can reach 100,000 lux, far exceeding the cactus's tolerance threshold of 60,000 lux. Intense light keeps the epidermal stomata continuously open, resulting in a water loss rate three times the normal value per hour, causing the base to form annular wrinkles due to the preferential use of reserved water. Sudden exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn spots, damaging the chloroplast structure.
3.2 Scientific Sunshade Strategy
Set up an adjustable sunshade system: use 30% sunshade net from May to June, and upgrade to 50% density from July to August, combined with an automatic rotating base to ensure even exposure to light. Set up a "trapezoidal light area" on the southeast-facing balcony, fully receiving 15,000 lux soft light before 10 a.m., and filtering strong light through gauze in the afternoon.
The wrinkling and shrinkage at the base of the cactus is essentially a survival alert sent by the plant. By establishing a three-dimensional protection system of "water gradient control," "temperature buffer zone," and "light intensity monitoring," the plant can return to a plump shape. It is recommended to measure the diameter of the cactus body (error ±0.5cm) and detect the EC value of the matrix (maintain 0.8-1.2mS/cm) every month to achieve precision maintenance.