01-06-2002 21:05									#1
	My cactus died... Support Apolyton

Or so it seems, I'm not entirely certain.

I've had it since I turned 11, it was a birthday present of my elementary school teacher. Since then it was growing only slowly, and I have just realized why: apparently, the roots never expanded beyond the original core of earth, although I had added more over the years as it grew...

I've always had it in my room, so it never had a lot of sunlight to grow. Sometiems gave a lot of water, sometiems none at all over months, that's what it is a cactus for. Now this spring I thought I'd take it out to the balcony every day and back in at night, now that I actually have an own balcony attached to my room. But since there are those metal things for keeping flower boxes that take away the light, I put it onto a brick that I had out ont oa corner of the balcony wall, so it was stable but vulnerable to wind.

Today, it must heva been less than 2 hours ago, it fell down, onto the ground, 2 floors. When I noticed it had disappeared from my balcony I knew it had finally happened, and I hoped the ground was soft enough. So I went downstairs to get it up, and there I saw the groun was not doft enough. A part has broken off (a small part only, like one square inch) and the rest is split off. The top is only held by some string inside, which might be a sign for inner 'organs' still working. Is it dying now? Can I try to put it together carefully and hope it will survive and finally grow some new skin (with spikes, alright, just out of a blue sky )? As I said, the main string seems alright...

What can I do? I don't want to lose it

	01-06-2002 21:09									#2
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TIME IS CACTUS LIFE!!!

	01-06-2002 21:11									#3
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What species of cactus is it?

	01-06-2002 21:12									#4
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It will be in my prayers tonight.

	01-06-2002 21:13									#5
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I don't know what species it is, it seems to be very simple... no branching, growing upwards into the air (not one of those small ball-shape cactusses)... just a simple cactus... and it's hurt badly

	01-06-2002 21:18									#6
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Cacti should not be watered in winter, and at other times only from the bottom - if the compost is dry, dunk it in water up to the rim but don't allow the water to go over the rim. Let it soak up from the bottom.

From the description, it sounds slightly ****ed - just put it back together and hope. It might develop a graft if you're lucky. They're not supposed to grow very fast, by the way, but if kept more than six inches from the window they'll think they're in the dark and won't grow at all.

Hopefully it'll be ok. I keep a lot of cacti myself, and I hate losing any of them.

	01-06-2002 21:19									#7
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Plants can be very resilient.

If this makes sense, take a length of twine and tie it around the cactus, tight enough that the pieces remain in contact but not so tight that the shape is distorted.

I have no idea if this will help, but I think it will increase the chance of mending.

If possible, remove any dirt from the inside of the cactus -- I shouldn't have to say this, but don't use any 'cleaners', or chlorinated water for this.

	01-06-2002 21:28									#8
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If you take care of it and it doesn't get infected, then it might survive. Plants can be pretty strong.

	01-06-2002 21:28									#9
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I thought about removing dirt, it's very dirty inside... but using water there might be dangerous for said main string, which seems weaker than I thought at first... thanks for the advice, guyd

I'll try that twine trick.

	01-06-2002 21:29									#10
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It's suffering. Take it out into the fields and shoot it.

	01-06-2002 21:34									#11
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It just needs some fresh air. Take it out to the fields and let it jump around playfully.

	01-06-2002 21:36									#12
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Bugs, it occurs rarely that I laugh out loud to my computer screen, but that comment was priceless

	01-06-2002 21:38									#13
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Yeah, it sounds like it needs love. Give it a big hug

	01-06-2002 21:43									#14
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You can wash it with boiled water. That will remove the chlorine from it.

	01-06-2002 21:47									#15
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there is no chlorine, but thanks, I have just cleaned it a bit in some water...

	01-06-2002 21:49									#16
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Sorry.

I meant remove chlorine from tap water, not from your cactus.

	01-06-2002 21:52									#17
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I know

well, this is proceeding slowly... it's hard to get it tied together, too much single pieces (well, 1) and the rest is too weakly attached to the whole body... I might do it while it is under water, thus having more control... apart from that, I would need something to tie it superficially before tying it with the twine... I don't want to use tape for this, as it is too artificial and would have to be removed shortly which is impossible after it is tied with twine... but what can I do instead...

	01-06-2002 21:53									#18
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This is like "ER".

	01-06-2002 21:55									#19
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"10cc baby bio STAT"

	01-06-2002 21:55									#20
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Bugs, I'll have you know I will remember all that next time your daughter is sick

	01-06-2002 21:57									#21
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

The cactus actually looks like I could post a pic of it on rotten.com

	01-06-2002 21:57									#22
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CLEAR! *boomph* ASYSTOLIC! CHARGE TO 200! CLEAR! *boomph*

	01-06-2002 21:57									#23
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Andy, perhaps you should make an end to his suffering soon

	01-06-2002 21:58									#24
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I had a cactus when I was 11 too, it died because it has some little bugs living inside of it. Ewww!

	01-06-2002 21:59									#25
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I think this one can survive, but I need to get it tied together first... just how?

	01-06-2002 21:59									#26
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What natural substance could I use to glue the single pieces together without harming the cactus itself?

	01-06-2002 22:00									#27
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Sew it together. Frankencactus!!!

	01-06-2002 22:01									#28
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I thought about that.. using an organic substance for sewing that then resolves in the water inside, but I have no catgut here

	01-06-2002 22:02									#29
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quote: Originally posted by Hobbes Sew it together. Frankencactus!!!

Put a little bolt through it's shaft as well

	01-06-2002 22:03									#30
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Use bits of sewing threads to tie the pieces together.