Hi all,

I've had this cactus for about 14 months, and when I originally got it, all the cacti pointed upwards, but over the past year they have started going all over the place.

I assumed they were chasing the light, as there isn't a huge amount in my flat, but I wondered whether I should be more concerned by this behaviour?

I should add that the cacti are all quite springy, it doesn't feel like they are going to drop off or are saggy/droopy. I've also ordered a grow light which will hopefully help, and it definitely hasn't been over watered. There are also some black spots, but these have been on there since I've had it, and have never multiplied or enlarged.

If anyone has any advice, or knows of any action I can take then please get back to me!

The last picture attached is the best I have of it when I originally had it!

Thanks!

Allright, first up. NOT a cactus. Ive posted this before, and im not creative so ill post it again. You have a stem succulent belonging to the apocyanaceae order, not cactaceae(genetically completely different, only similarity is that they are both dicots). Hoodia belongs to a succulent sub group formerly called stapeliads, now with research they most under the genus ceropegia, bar a few exceptions.
everything else, look up here (mention of stapelia in the text. Cacti have are areoles, stapleiads and everything else DO NOT.

skopjecollection said:

Fuzz covered , circular or oval areas found on cacti, usually on its ribs , or on/near tubercules, and if not on the surface. Always come from a growth centre/apex(densest there)



(even epiphytic cacti have them even though they arent as apparent)


Spines and glochids come from them, and usually flowers/fruits and branches out of special ..substructures on them.
Exceptions include gernera with double areole(mammillaria, coryphantha, escobaria etc) and those with fruiting structures-cephalium/pseudocephalium like melocactus.
Whereas everything else doesnt have these structures, they are almost* exclusive to cacti(the almost part being Trichodiadema, but the areoles are in appearance only)
NOT areoles- leaf and thorn group on Euphorbia trigona, thorn group on Pachypodium, leaf fallen off , growth buds/spike on Stapelia(now Ceropegia), leaf vestige -Senecio/Kleinia









These may serve similar functions(growth bud, flowering) but do not have the same physiology as areoles

Now, with that out of the way, with your plant ive noticed a trend...its far from a window. As in you keep it on a high shelf far away from any natural source of light (eg a window). Idk where you are exactly at but when you can(in the summer) try placing the plant outdoors, and preferably not in a dark corner there). A lack of light leads to sickly, weak growth, and the process being dubbed "etiolation". The plant will stretch out and seek the light, deforming out of its upright shape(unless the plant is already in that form or habitat naturally).

As Stefan said, not a cactus, a succulent. My guess is that putting it on a shelf like that might be fine if the room is VERY bright, Ie. a sunroom. But otherwise, it's probably getting deep shade. So, it probably would need more sun. It's growth habit may be normal.

The plant needs to be right in front of your sunniest southerly facing window, not high up on a shelf. It needs to "see" the sun for hours a day, year round. Indirect (ambient, filtered, diffused) light is good but not a substitute. Grow lights may be helpful, but they generally need to be so bright that they become annoying to the humans in the room.

Thank you everyone for your responses, much appreciated!

The shelf doesn't get much light, however I frequently move the succulent into a position where it does get light during the day, but this flat just isn't great for light in general.

Hopefully I can get some good results with the grow light.

Thanks