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The Tell-Tale Sign Your Christmas Cactus Suffers From Root Rot (And What
To Do)
By ANDREA MARVIN
Unlike decorations, holiday plants can continue to add vibrancy to your home during winter. Christmas cactus can be kept around, if you can keep pesky root rot from arising.
Root rot is a disease caused by overwatering, poor drainage, or soil fungi. It can cause roots to look dark and mushy and the branches of your succulent plant to droop and soften.
Should this happen, you can help your Christmas cactus recover. Soggy soil can deteriorate the roots, so remove any excess water from the pot and the bottom drainage tray.
If this doesn’t help the ailing cactus, check your pot’s drainage, making sure the water comes out easily when the plant is soaking. Otherwise, repot the plant into another pot.
Check the plant's roots — healthy roots are white and flexible, while damaged ones have blackened, soft tips. Cutting off any damaged roots will keep the disease from spreading.
After removing the damaged roots, choose a new, well-draining pot that’s 1 to 2 inches bigger than the last one. Add new potting soil that’s slightly acidic with a pH of 5 to 7.