What to Do When a Wanzhongshan (Cereus jamacaru) Goes Soft? Here's the Correct Way to Handle It

Causes

(1) Overwatering or underwatering. Too much water keeps the soil layer damp for a long time, causing the roots to rot so they can no longer absorb water and needed nutrients; although it does not need to be watered too frequently, that does not mean it needs no watering at all, and keeping the soil in an overly dry environment for a long time will also make it go soft.

(2) Temperature too low. This plant is not very cold-hardy, especially when grown outdoors in the north; if the winter is too cold and it is not moved indoors in time, the plant will easily go soft, which in fact means it has been frostbitten.

(3) Poor air circulation. An overly stuffy and hot environment easily makes plants sick. It can even easily invite other pests and diseases.

Solutions

When planting, choose soil and a flower pot with good breathability and drainage, so that even if you make a watering mistake once, you can remedy it in time. The watering method for Wanzhongshan is to alternate between dry and moist, meaning that when the potting soil is close to completely dry, water it, and water thoroughly in one go, but it is better to let the potting soil stay on the dry side than too wet. This point is very important.

In winter, the temperature must be kept above 5 degrees; if the nighttime temperature is too low, you can wrap it with a glass cover or plastic film to keep it warm.

Most plants need a well-ventilated environment, and this is even more true for Wanzhongshan.