Hylocereus Rotting

One of my Hylocereus plants didn't like all the rain we got recently, or maybe it was the near freezing weather or wet soil that caused the base to rot, leaving only a woody center core. There are some air roots on this vine, but I don't know if they are enough to sustain this plant for very long. I guess my question is whether I should repot in better draining soil, planting the base deeper, or whether I need to chop it up and re-root the pieces. I'd like to plant the whole thing in one piece if I could. Now that most of the base is rotted, it is probably not getting any nourishment from the current roots at all, is it? Has anyone any experience with this one? The current clay pot is pretty much filled with roots. Here's a pic of the whole plant. It was just moved from its current location. I'll post a close-up of the base in a second picture.

Here is a close-up of the base:

Clare, I do not know much about this plant, but it looks like there is enough of the stem to still provide the plant with food. It looks like the roots are still providing the leaves with moisture, or it would look dried out? I would carefully rinse/remove all the dirt off the roots and rinse with hydrogen peroxide-and esp the stem and then repot up past the stem to the leaves. If you want to leave it whole, I think thats the best you can do for it. I think I would also start a new piece, in case it does die.

Hi Tigerlily. Thanks for your help. I actually have several other Hylocereus plants. Hylocereus is an epiphyte so it gets some moisture and nutrients from its air rootlets. It holds a lot of water in the stems so it actually can go a long time without water without looking shriveled or dried out. The base is just a woody core at this point, and I'm not sure that can support the plant. I think I'm going to have to cut it off at the base and root the top portion. I think the roots are fine. I think this is just stem rot at the soil line. I've rooted large pieces before, but this would be a record.

This message was edited Mar 1, 2007 10:01 PM

Just to follow up on this thread, I posted this over at EpiForums, and it turns out that this is a natural occurrence:

"This is actually quite normal as the plant part under the soil line isn't getting any light and therefore not of any use by the plant, so the branch will disappear and only the central nerve will be intact. Many epi hybrids do the same."

"Same experience with me as well. The plant no longer "needs" the chlorophyl-containing epidermis and usually will cover the exposed area with a woody, cork layer after a couple years. I have a few Selens with spots like these. I also have a few spots where branches broke partially but remain intact with fluid movement and the exposed vein hardens off and continues to function just the same in these cases as well."

Clare, that's a very good information you put here. In fact several Epi (from you!) at my place do the same.

Thanks, Kukiat:-) I was relieved to learn that I don't have to re-root that big plant! I too checked some of my epi's at their bases and saw the same thing happening on some of them so that is good:-) My epi's are covered in buds right now. I hope yours are too!