There are few answers for the question “Why are my bunny ear cactus dying?”.
Over watering and under watering are two key factors which could cause these plants to perish. Moreover, if you had grown them in a poor draining soil mix, it would also be fatal for them.
If you expose the plants to excess moisture, it will make the plants more prone towards the fungus diseases. Besides, the pests’ attacks may also result in the deaths of the plants.
How do I know if my bunny Ear cactus is dying?
If you spot your bunny Ear cactus falling over, droop downwards severely and develop brown spots, they are the signs of a dying bunny Ear cactus.
Not only that but also, if you could spot shriveled leaves, they are heading towards death. Having said that, root rot is something which commonly causes the plants to die.
If the plants are suffering from root rot, you could spot the bunny Ear cactus turning brown. Further it will turn black eventually.
Bunny Ear cactus growing long and skinny
If you spot your bunny Ear cactus have become long and slender, it is a repercussion of lack of sunlight exposure for the plants.
Literally you have starved the plants for sunlight and hence they try to reach the best possible sunlight source they can reach.
Consequently, they will become leggy and etiolated. It is important that they get at least six hours – fourteen hours of sunlight to grow healthily.
If the bunny Ear cactus are still deprived of sunlight, you need to place fluorescent lamps and bulbs so that it will supplement them with additional sunlight.
Bunny Ear cactus white patches
Bunny Ear cactus may form white patches due to pest attacks.
Bunny Ear cactus are vulnerable for mealybugs infestations. It could also lead the plants to perish given that they spread on a severe level.
To treat them, you need to use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Simply you have to apply it by using a cotton swab. It will avoid these nasty creatures invading your Bunny Ear cactus.
Why is my bunny Ear cactus turning brown?
Bunny Ear cactus may turn brown due to several factors.
Literally if they are aging or if they are suffering from root rot, they would turn brown. Besides, pest infestation from scales may also cause these plants to turn brown. When they grow older, they would turn brown as the ordinary green color exudes.
Bunny ear cactus turning yellow
The exposure for too much sunlight is what causes these plants to turn yellow.
Additionally , the wrong soil type or a small container or a pot would also contribute to Bunny Ear cactus turning yellow.
When the plants have turned yellow it literally means they are in stress. Under watering or over watering could be the reasons here.
You can remedy this condition by simply adjusting your watering routine. Further as aforesaid, you need to choose a right soil mix and a slightly larger pot to grow them.
Bunny ear cactus drooping
If the Bunny Ear cactus roots are too weak, it could result in the drooping of the Bunny Ear cactus.
Further if you had grown them in a way too larger pot, it would also result in the plants drooping. Additionally, under watering, over watering lack of sunlight and pests’ attacks may also lead for this condition.
Additionally, if there is a poor irrigation in the soil mix, it would also attribute for Bunny Ear cactus drooping. In this circumstance, you need to identify what exactly cause this condition and act accordingly.
Bunny ear cactus fungus
Bunny Ear cactus may experience fungal infections due to excess moisture.
For example, powdery mildew, Downy mildew , leaf spot and rust fungus are some of the fungal attacks which they may come across.
To elaborate further on the powdery mildew, you will see how they turn or brown. Ultimately it will create a stunt growth in the plants if you do not treat them well in advance.
If the Bunny Ear cactus is suffering from this condition, you will spot white spores on all their body parts. They would spread through wind or by rain and make the other plants also infected.
Besides, they may experience leaf spots as well. If they are suffering from leaf spot condition, you will see the dark spots on the plants leaves.
Eventually they will become brown spots along with white or gray centers. Further chances are that they will consist of purple or brown borders as well.
To treat these, you can first cut off the infected areas. Next, you may use fungicide on the affected plants.
Moreover, you can spray the infected plants with white vinegar solution. Apart from that, it is important that you conduct regular check ups on the plants so that you can attend to these issues well in advance and avoid further repercussions.
How do you save dying bunny ear cactus?
First you need to cut the rotten parts- Your bunny Ear cactus may encounter root rot due to over watering.
Hence if you spot any black or brown bunny Ear cactus plant parts, you need to remove them as well.
Ideally you need to repot them in a fresh soil mix. If the rot is on a minor level, you can let the specimen wither and then continue looking after them as regular plants. If you repot, ensure that you are using a fresh soil mix.
Next, you need to adjust the sunlight. Chances are that your bunny Ear cactus may die due lapses in the sunlight exposure.
If you spot your plants are etiolated, you need to increase the sunlight exposure. Ideally you need to shift the plants to a bright sunny spot or bring them outdoors for some time so that they can receive sufficient sunlight.
Apart from the above, if you spot your bunny Ear cactus is wilted and wrinkled you need to add more water.
However, when watering, ensure that you let the soil become dry from the previous watering and only then water. Failing to do so, it will create root rot in the plants.
Moreover, the pot you have grown the bunny Ear cactus in should be a well-draining one too. You need to change the watering frequency depending on the climate.
When watering the bunny Ear cactus during hotter parts, you need to water them weekly given that you grow them indoors.
When it comes to watering the bunny Ear cactus in winter, you need to cut back on watering and let the soil wither.
When you have to water the outdoor grown bunny Ear cactus, you need to observe the soil condition and proceed with watering.
If you spot your bunny Ear cactus has turned mushy and turned brown , it could be due to over watering.
In that circumstance you need to cut back on watering. It is crucial that you let their soil become dry between two watering sessions so that it would not create damp conditions in the soil mix.
Pests’ attacks and insects’ attacks are two more factors which could kill your bunny Ear cactus. They would cause yellowing of your previous cactus and make them sick.
Spider mites, mealy bugs are some of the pests which could kill the plants. In that circumstance, you should treat them with rubbing alcohol. Alternatively, you may also use a pesticide as well.
Can bunny ear cactus come back to life?
If your bunny Ear cactus is suffering from root rot and if it has spread on a severe level, it is very unlikely that you could save it.
However, if there are issues in the upper part of the body, chances are that you could save your precious bunny Ear cactus. Besides, you can consider transplanting the bunny Ear cactus too.
To do that you need to get rid of the older soil and replace it with sterile soil.
Further when repotting, you need to transplant them in a fresh potting medium too. If your bunny Ear cactus is mushy and soft, you can take the healthy parts of the plants and use them for propagation and make new plants.
It will allow you to make new healthy plants same as the parent plants.
Conclusion
Bunny Ear cactus are versatile plants and strong contenders when it comes to overcoming diseases.
Hence if you use the correct care tips, it is very rare that you have to encounter these conditions. However, if ever these plants experience these conditions, I suggest you apply organic as well as chemical ways to remedy them particularly when you treat them for fungal attacks.
Besides, if you adhere to the right watering routine and if you grow them in a well-draining soil mix , Bunny Ear cactus would thrive well without any major concerns.
Read Next : Bunny Ear Cactus Light Requirement ( What Do They Need? )
