Cactus and Succulents

Are you one that believes that misting cacti is beneficial? Does misting help with watering?. Misting cacti is beneficial only for a specific category (called tropical cacti). Desert cactus, on the other hand, should not be misted to avoid 1) stem rot, 2) pests and diseases, 3) poor root growth, and 4) dehydration. However, cactus…

Watering cacti and succulents the right way does not need to be hard! However, the number one reason for cacti or succulents to die is actually improper watering. Here I will explain how I do water my hundreds of cacti the proper way. Cacti and succulents should be watered only when the soil is completely…

Perhaps you have a cactus that has grown too massive to support itself. It is bending and seems to topple down, but you’re unsure how to fix it. I have several cacti that become top-heavy, and here’s how I help my plant get back in shape. Cactus becomes top-heavy due to offset formation, rapid stem…

You have had a cactus with you for several years already, but it hasn’t given you a single flower despite being given the best growing conditions. How often do they flower? Generally, cacti shoot up flowers every year during their blooming season. However, some factors delay their bud formation, such as 1) maturity, 2) species,…

You are repotting your cactus and noticed that it has rotten roots. The root tips seem to be dead, but you’re not sure what needs to be done. They need trimming, and here’s how I do it with my cactus for years. To successfully trim any cactus roots it is necessary to 1) uproot the…

If you have ever been to a desert, you’ve probably wondered how cacti survived the diverse environmental condition. They must have powerful roots that sustained them through drought, strong winds, and periodic downpours. What do their roots look like from beneath the surface? Cactus roots look woody and extensive. Their roots evolved to gather water…

Water is a limited resource in desert landscapes, yet plants such as cacti thrived in the barren region. How do they survive several months of drought? Cacti store water in their stems and enlarged roots that contain collapsible water storage cells called parenchyma. The cells have flexible walls that expand and shrink depending on the…

Indeed you have a pretty cactus doing great on your windowsill. Suddenly, you notice that it’s gradually turning yellow despite being given the usual care. What might be the cause of discoloration? Is there any way to solve it? Cactus can get yellow due to 1) insufficient light source, 2) poor soil quality, 3) exposure…

Do you have this spiny plant that oozes with white liquid when poked? A lot of people have mistaken them as cacti, but indeed they are not! What are they, and what is that milky substance they shed? The white milky substance that some cacti-like plants produce when their stem or leaves are cut is…

Due to the scarcity of water and food in the desert, animals are adapted to eat just anything they can stomach, including the spiky cactus. How they manage to eat the prickly plant without getting hurt leaves us wondering. What animals are capable of eating a cactus? Camels in the desert usually eat cactus. They…

Ever happened to break your beloved cactus spines. Yes, quite a few times. Are they going to grow back? I tested and documented an experiment about broken cactus spines that will fascinate you. Spines arise from the areoles of the cactus. If a spine is broken, it will not regrow. However, if the broken spine…

Have you noticed some white powdery substance hiding on the crevices of your cactus stems? Did your cactus experience growth deformation and discoloration? Inspect your plant right away as it may be infested with mealybugs! Mealybugs are white, fuzzy insects, 2-3mm long with filaments around their body. A mealybug infestation looks like a cottony mass…