This cactus is currently living in the heat in Arizona. Recently 8 babies have grown but the bottom of the cactus now has changed shape. Is this normal or does it need more water? Wondering if the new growth is taking all the water causing the main cactus to die....
How has it changed? Has it to do with the narrow part? Anyway, it does not look dehydrated, so I don't think it is underwatered.
So the base is now narrower and the top wider? I have seen a similar contraction of the base a few times, but I have never found the cause, not even after cutting affected stems. They have appeared completely normal on the inside, just thinner. So, it is probably not a disease, and lack of water would cause the entire stem to stop growing and become wrinkled. I would wait and see how it develops.
Octomom! Though I'm no cacti expert (except for Opuntia fragilis), I think that when an apparently healthy plant exhibits a seemingly normal behaviour, it is unwise to intervene - at least in the short term.
