Saving Freeze-Damaged Cacti

The cactus is typically considered a desert plant that tolerates high temperatures, but many varieties also survive cold, freezing winters with little damage. Long periods of frost or excessively low temperatures can cause damage to the succulent cactus pads and stems, but most will recover if you care for them properly afterward. The exception is tropical cactus varieties, such as the Christmas cactus. You can't save these types if they are exposed to a freeze.

Frost blanket
Bleach
Gloves
Knife

Instructions

- 1
  Withhold all irrigation after frost damage. Watering cactus plants in the winter causes their pads to retain moisture, which can later freeze and cause the cells to burst. Most damage occurs from the bursting of overwatered plants.
- 2
  Cover the cacti with a frost blanket at when temperatures drop below freezing, but remove the blanket on sunny days or when the temperatures are above freezing. The blanket prevents further damage on the plant.
- 3
  Inspect the plant for dead pads and bacterial infections causing damaged pads to rot after temperatures begin to warm and most frost danger is past. Soft, mushy or blackened pads require removal.
- 4
  Combine one part household bleach with 10 parts water. Dip a knife in the solution to sterilize it. Put on gloves and cut the damaged pads back to the nearest undamaged plant part. Sterilize the knife in the bleach solution after each cut so you don't spread any disease organisms.

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