Please explain, in detail, what is the best soil mixture to plant a pencil cactus in?

Question

I have a 1 year old pencil cactus that was given to me by a friend. It was only a small start plant when she gave it to me. I kept it outside on my front porch during the spring and summer months, but moved it into the house for the freezing winter months. It seemed to make the transition to indoors very well for the first month and a half. It had grown substantially, and had become very top-heavy, so I re-potted it into a larger pot. It seems to have started dying since being re-potted. I panicked, and gave it what I now understand was too much water. It is now looking so awful, with the majority of the limbs/branches shriveled and many turned hard and grey. I’d like to re-pot it again, only this time into the proper soil mixture, and I’d be very careful not to over water it.

Answer 1

More than likely, it got put into a regular potting soil mix. This will not work at all. The solution is very simple, however.

Cactus soil, or epyphitic soil (for orchids)will work, but succulent soil with sand in it is best. It is a little closer in habit to that than it is a true cactus.

This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/pencil-cactus/care-pencil-cactus.htm

Answer 2

You are also going to want to cure the infection that has started… Replace 1/4 of the water with peroxide next time that you water it. Only do this once, and if the infection returns in the future. This will help, but be prepared to lose a good portion of the plant. Infections are usually pretty destructive to plants.