To bin or not to bin, that is the question.

[el48tel]

This Parodia magnifica has performed well over the past few years but I noticed that it wasn't showing signs of growth. It came away from the pot with little in the way of roots, and on cleaning the remaining roots came away. It sounds hollow.

Is it ....

Bin?
Sit on fresh compost?
Lop off bottom few centimetres, callous, and sit on fresh compost?
Another suggestion?
Thanks in anticipation

[Phil_SK]

It doesn't look hollow. When they're completely rotten inside the roots tend to pull away with most of the innards at the same time. I'd give the stump a scratch with a fingernail or a brush with an old toothbrush to check for clean tissue. I suspect that would be all you'd need to do but you could cut back or gouge out until all the brown is gone though that's more for when the middle is complete mush. Let it dry and then reroot in a shallow container of moler or whatever you use for rooting cuttings.

[Chris L]

I would be tempted to cut it where the curve changes radius - keep the dark green and get rid of the light green. That way you'll see if any rot has got higher up. If there is any brown in the tissue when cut it is probably a goner.

Shame when that happens - its probably been rotting at the roots for a while.

[DaveW]

With dry rot like that you can often peel away the dead tissue taking all the rot with it. In any case new roots cannot penetrate that hardened tissue you need to get back to clean tissue, leave it form a clean callous for a few days and then re-root.

[el48tel]

I took the gamble and cut about a generous inch above the callous. Looking at the piece now binned, I could have cut lower, but I hedged my bets.
This morning the root area looked beyond hope, so I knew that the the reroot option was not an option. I took the gamble and cut, knowing that if disease etc was present the plant was a no-go. If it doesn't callous then root ... again it's nothing further lost. If it roots then I win. Worst scenario is a space on the shelf for another purchase.

[Phil_SK]

Try rooting the bottom bit, just as is.

[Tina]

Bin it,

[el48tel]

Bin it,

Nah
Not adventurous enough

[el48tel]

Try rooting the bottom bit, just as is.

Now there's an adventurous thought ... on way now to bin

[el48tel]

Try rooting the bottom bit, just as is.

Now there's an adventurous thought ... on way now to retrieve it from bin