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Cactus Corking [Everything You Should Know]

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If you have been growing cacti for some time then you may run into the phenomenon known as cactus corking.

Thankfully this is completely normal and meant to be for a lot of cacti but what exactly is this and how does it happen?

Let’s find out.

What is cactus corking?

Cactus corking is a process that involves the change in color and texture of a cactus that results directly from the aging process but also how weathered a cactus is.

Naturally over time a cactus will begin to cork in an effort to provide a solid base of support for future growth.

Think of it almost as a self building foundation.

Pretty cool huh.

When cacti cork, they slowly build a bark like structure starting from the base of the plant and go straight up all around it for a varied amount depending on the cactus.

It resembles a cork like structure hence the name, cactus corking.

Although it may appear odd that a green cactus is turning brown, it is nothing to be worried about, that is if it is actually corking and not turning brown for other unhealthy reasons such as rot.

So if your cactus is corking, it just means it is preparing itself for new growth and wants to make sure it can hold it’s own weight and won’t fall over.

How to tell the difference

The biggest way to tell if your cactus is corking or rot is by touching the brown area of the plant.

If the area feels firm to the touch and almost bark like then the cactus is most certainly corking.

Also this process is pretty slow so if you notice a giant brown area appear overnight then this is not the case and something is actually wrong.

If something like that has happened to your cactus then odds are it could be rot, sunburn, freezing temperatures or other factors.

If the cactus feels soft or mushy to the touch and is brown then you most likely have rot on your hands and you should check the roots for damage.

So to sum it up, bark like structure that is firm and slowly growing up your cactus then this is corking, anything else is not.

Other factors that cause corking

Other than the aging process, cactus can begin to cork when grown in very bright light for long periods of time.

So if you want to increase the odds of this happening to your cactus then go ahead and provide more light than usual and for longer.

Keep in mind that you run the risk of your cacti getting sunburn by doing this but this also leads to a cactus corking faster in a lot of cases.

If you don’t want your cactus to cork then your best bet is to provide more shade for your succulent than usual and this will reduce the chances of this happening.

It is not a guarantee but it’s certainly better than not doing anything if you don’t want a cacti to turn brown naturally.

Is this permanent?

Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this is indeed a permanent feature once the process has already begun.

Your cactus will forever be brown in color on a certain area of the plant no matter what you do.

But this is perfectly fine since it’s natural and expected of most cacti.

It may just be not as aesthetic as you would of hoped but who knows, maybe you will grow to like it, pun intended.

Common Questions

Below are some common questions and answers on the topic of cactus corking, straight to the point.

Cactus Corking vs Rot?

In short, cactus corking vs rot can be identified quickly just by feeling your cactus. If the affected area is soft, mushy or suddenly turned brown or black then it’s rot.

If the area has slowly begun browning, takes up a large area and is firm to the touch then it’s just your cactus corking.

Why Is My Cactus Turning Woody?

If your cactus has turned woody then I can assure you this means your cactus is corking.

This happens to most cacti with enough time and is certainly not root rot.

How Do You Get Rid Of Cactus Corking?

Technically you could remove the entire area where your cactus has shown corking, but I feel this would do more harm than good just for the sake of aesthetics.

Personally I would leave your cactus as is and just appreciate that you have grown a cactus long enough to where it’s had it’s chance to finally become a corked cactus!

Final Thoughts

Overall I hope this has put your mind at ease.

If you want to learn more on this topic, Patrick Grubbs has a great article on this topic and was one of the very first to cover it out of the many sources out there.

As always I hope you have found this information useful and enjoy the process!

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