Cacti and Succulents

I have grown lithops from seed years ago, I still have a fair few plants.They are easy, but slow and can take about two years to get bigger than a pin head mostly.I used sharp sand mixed with peat based multipurpose. scatter seed thinly on the surface and water from the bottom.A lot will...

Well what do you know, I can stick a label on mine now(about 10 years old!)

In my experience, opuntia thorns tend to go......through your skin

You could turn the pot upside down with a hand over the bottom and give it a good shake to loosen the soil and extract the plants carefully. Then gently scrape off as much soil as you can without damaging the roots then place in a bucket of water gently shaking the plants about to remove the...

Thanks for replies. I regularly treat the mealy bugs with meths but I didn't realize they caused the mold.

Thanks @Spruce , that’s a good tip

It's a cultivar of Cotyledon orbiculata

I just can't believe how fast he is growing ... he is forgotten!

I've found rot around the base is orange in colour and the cactus rots from the base up. Obviously there are probably other types, and I agree, once rot gets into the flesh there is not much that you can do.

I had flowers but only one time, I think you need brighter conditions than I give mine. I remember the flowers being quite scented, but only at night.

We were in a private garden in Sicily on part of a Mediterranean Plants and Gardens tour www.medpag.org and we walked through an archway to be greeted by, what seemed to be hundreds of, very large E. grusoniis, all happily growing away. A sight to see! We've also seen the ones in the Sydney...

Equally cant be sure, maybe go over the plant with a hand lens and look for bugs attacking the plant, it could be fungal but somehow growing indoors I wouldn't have thought so. Rebutias are usually one of the easiest cacti to grow, so not sure.I dont think its lack of light as the plants...

Yes, I have seen it stated at a min of something like 7c but it would probably be OK around 5c I would think if very dry and a bit shrivelled. The thing I have found is often the problems only show up in the spring when the plant doesn't start to grow and you find internal rot has set in during...

I’m pleased to report that when I moved this Crassula to a chilly conservatory, she stopped dropping leaves and cheered right up. So it seems it was the shock of change to a new environment and she simply didn’t want a warm room! Thanks to all who reached out to advise a rookie like me!

I wouldn't feed it yet, winter isn't a time for new growth. If you encourage it to grow new shoots now they may be weak and spindly due to lack of light in the short days.

These are lovely aren't they, I like the way they trail, and I can even leave them outside here in the winter and the leaves turn red in cold weather. The flowers are bright too

My cuttings arrived. Very healthy so potted them up ../Some good information here ... How to Grow the Pencil Cactus

Yes, my greenhouse gets very damp, and although I ventilate it regularly by opening the door and windows, the air still feels damp in there when we get a rainy period.

Just as a follow up. Out of the 3 Setiechinopsis, 1 decided to flower in Sept '24. 20 months old.Of the 3 originals, 2 are now in full growth and getting ready to flower, while one is sulking. Fof

Rhipsalis cereuscula (and unpainted walls waiting for me, but I'm afraid they'll have to wait a bit longer !)