[Arid_gardener] RE: Saguaro Arms

[Christine M. Bahto]

ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:17:55 -0700 (MST)
From: finegardendesign at hotmail.com

shannon
85255

My large sajuaro cactus has been dropping it's healthy looking arms. What
could be wrong and what can be done? Many thanks

ANSWER:
Shannon,
Make sure there is no sign of rot (blackened areas) at the end of the arm
and also the area where it was attached. If they all look healthy it is
possible that the arms just got too heavy for the saguaro to support. Is the
saguaro being watered too much? Can you touch the surface of the cactus
without being impaled by a spine, if so, it might need to go on a "diet". If
you aren't watering it, is it too close to plants that are irrigated-it
might have tapped into their water supply, can those plants survive on less
water? If you are watering - remember a healthy saguaro is capable of
surviving on rainfall alone.

Christine Bahto
Master Gardener, Maricopa County, U of A Cooperative Extension