I feel so sad because just a week ago my cactus was doing so well...my mammillaria has begun to wilt. His spines are downcast and he's starting to lean a bit on one side. It's winter time and I water only once every 4 weeks, and he just got water 3 days ago. He sits in a temperature-regulated apartment near a south-facing window. Any thoughts on what I can do to make sure he doesn't wilt further/die?



Note: the pot is deep but it is half filled entirely with rocks at the bottom so that it's not deeply full of soil. Soil is half mix of commercial succulent potting soil + gravel.

I feel like this is one of those times when I take my dog to the Vet and say look how sick he is! The Vet stares at the dog and says "I don't see anything." And I say, his tail is droopy, he doesn't feel well.

I don't see anything...

I do have some concerns about the rocks on the bottom of the pot though. The soil could be staying wetter because of those rocks. I know its counter intuitive. Check the soil moisture with a bamboo skewer. Poke it into the pot all the way to the bottom. Leave it for a minute and pull it ou. Look and feel for moisture. You will be able to tell if the soil is too wet and where.

PS: Mammillaria love sun. Near a window is too far away.

Haha...I can relate to being a worrywart! I poked around at the bottom and it seems dry--the rocks at the bottom are technically decorative polished stones, so liquid slides right off them.

My running theory is that he's bummed out that the sun hasn't showed up since it's winter here in the midwest. He's made it through 4 winters here, so maybe his spines will regain their vigor when the sun pokes out again! Unfortunately I've always lived in an apartment, so my cactus cannot sit outside. I can get them right up to the window at best.

I'll closely watch how the cactus react to the upcoming summer...if they still look gloomy, I can invest in a heat lamp!

Do you have a South window? That direction would be best for your cactus (followed by west, east, north).