big hole in 60cm golden barrel

Hi all... i have a big problem. my 2.5 year old had a sword fight with my 60cm golden barrel cactus and put two huge stab wounds about a third of the way up and i think it is getting infected what can i do? Do i cut it in half?

help help help

Post a picture if you can. It's almost impossible to say without more info.

hey there

i cannot figure out how to post the image but there is a whole about 2 cn wide and maybe 8cm deep on 1 side and a smaller one on the other side if you can help me with uploading then i will put the picture up.

if you are sure that in the hole is infection you need a fungicide.
buy some multifunctional. Previcur - Bayer is very good
if it is only a wound you need to be sure that will dry, because if there is moisture it can be contaminated with microorganisms and than infected

i think there is moisture pooling at the bottom of the hole because of the angle

i am thinking i may need to cut a wedge out below the wound to let it drain and treat it with bayer maybe? i am pretty sure that it is infected

i finally figured out how to upload a picture

obviously doesn't share your passion for cactus.

http://imagefruity.com/viewer.php?file=wl90na26570nf53if2hl.jpg
i think that your grosonii is not good you have a problem.
the hole is too deep and in it is red witch baybe is infection
if is hot in day the wound can dry, but i`m not so sure.
you need first to try do dry hole in it
how big is your grusonii ?
maybe you can buy another
here is the temperature of your city :
Adelaide temperature
now is 4-5 degrees celsius and is too low for a cactus i think it is like in fridge exactly

i have performed surgery and it looks worse than i thought, it goes very deep into the core. i have removed all the bad stuff and am going to try and let it dry out. do you think that if i cut the entire top half off and let it dry out that it would take root like a cutting?

cutting a cactus is easy, but is very big i have ornatum witch i cutted a half
i takes 2 months to have new roots for 60cm cactus i dont know how long you will wait
if you decide to cut it - cut it to the green tissue. put sulfur on green tissue to prevent another contamination and surface to be dry put it in plastic pot (not to touch the bottom) and place it to cool and not direct sun light.
if you see that there again is contamination you need fungicide.
if the wound dries good you dont have problems
only one ... waiting

i have cut out all the infected area but it goes almost right through the cactus. i can barely clench my fists like i have arthritis from all the spikes i got in my hands. the holes are very deep and fungus gnats have taken out a lease on the inside of the holes. its not looking good

That looked like a really nice plant you had there Darren. I guess you can gather i'm talking in past tense .... Sorry to say but after seeing that pic and reading your comments I think she's gone mate

NO hmhmhm i cant lose her shes all i have...why god would you let this happen to me

she is still alive and there is no more rot as far as i can tell but there are now some major holes in her which have dried up. she has a ring of flowers starting to emerge. does anyone know if grusonii is self fertile? i have not yet got seed from this cactus but am hoping for a big harvest!!

Can we have a pic when she flowers? Glad she's hanging in there!

Some times cacti flower when they are dying. I hope this isn't the case for you Darren.

oh no dont tell me that

Yeah sad but true Darren, plants and in particular cacti have the will to survive and evolve programmed in to them. Cuttings and damaged plants regularly flower in an attempt to continue the species for another generation. But who knows your plant have have beaten it and is thriving in this heat

We'll 4 years later and she is still going well just thought I might need to update status.

And her nieces... Thanks to hanazano