Propagating Large Night-Blooming Cereus peruviana

Gene wanted to take cuttings from a 10-foot, multi-stemmed night-blooming Cereus peruviana after flowering. He asked where to cut (ground level, joints, etc.). Greg advised selecting arms to remove and cutting 2–3 foot

Mixed Mini Cacti Pot: Rot, Collapse & Replanting

Diane had a 4-inch pot with 5 cacti for 10 months. Burros tail sprouted and she potted the fallen leaves. Another plant sent up a shoot, leaned, and collapsed. She suspected root rot from overwatering and asked about rep

Growing Yucca from Seed: Step-by-Step

Marcene asked if yucca seeds can be planted to grow new plants. Greg confirmed yes. Use fast-draining cactus mix, sprinkle seeds on surface, cover with thin sand layer. Bottom-water by setting pot in a dish of water unt

Rescued Tall "Cactus" Is Likely Euphorbia: Pruning & Rooting

Iliad rescued a tall, thin plant with triangular stems and small leaves that appear with watering. It hit the ceiling and bent. He asked about cutting the top and rooting it. Jeff identified it as a succulent euphorbia,

How to Propagate Christmas Cactus from Cuttings

Larry wanted simple instructions for rooting a Christmas cactus cutting. Greg warned its a tricky species but doable. Steps: break off a 4–5 inch segment, let it callus for a week, plant ¾ inch deep in moist cactus mix

Indoor Cactus Care After Furnace Upgrade: Heat, Water & Soil

Kathies 15-year cactus collection thrived on a south windowsill with monthly watering. After installing a forced-air gas furnace and vinyl windows, she lost the windowsill, moved plants to a dining table near a heat vent

Aloe Vera Brown Base, Short Roots & Slow Growth: Diagnosis

Jennifers 1.5-year-old indoor aloe had brown, dry leaf bases, minimal growth, and very short roots after repotting. She asked if roots should be long, if theyd regrow, and about division and maximum size. Greg diagnosed

Why Your Cereus peruvianus Is Bending at the Top

Johns 11-year-old, 5-foot Cereus peruvianus (6-sided, green lower stem, blue top) had the top foot bend over suddenly. He asked if this was normal. Greg confirmed the ID and said bending is not normal. The most likely c

Repotting Aloe Vera: Don't Fear the Roots

Amanda bought an aloe with roots emerging from the pots drainage holes but feared repotting because plants usually died afterward. Greg reassured her that aloe vera is extremely tough. He advised repotting into a fast-d

Tall Cactus With Leaves? It's Likely a Euphorbia

Larry described a 6-foot columnar plant that grew leaves at the top before dying. He couldnt identify it. Jeff noted that very few true cacti produce leaves at that height. He suspected a Euphorbia species, many of whic

Top-Heavy Aloe Vera: Staking, Re-rooting & Leaf Splitting

Rachelle (UK) had 5-year-old aloe veras with foot-long leaves that kept toppling and uprooting. Some leaves split mid-leaf. Plants were staked but still top-heavy. Greg explained that aloe vera naturally becomes top-hea

Aloe Vera Growth Habit: Why They Lean & How to Manage Pups

Rachelle considered planting aloe vera pups in a long trough for mutual support but read that leaving pups attached drains the mother, causing sideways growth. She asked whether individual pots or a communal trough was b

Mixing Cacti & Succulents in a Strawberry Jar: Design & Care

Diane wanted to replant a failed mixed cactus pot into a small strawberry jar. She asked if different cacti and succulents could coexist compatibly. Greg confirmed they can be mixed, with a smart layout: place desert ty

What Are Succulents? Definition, Traits & Name Origin

Dean asked for a clear definition of succulents and the origin of the name. Chris explained that succulents are plants adapted to store water in thick, fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. The group includes cacti and many o

Propagating Succulents from Aerial Roots: A Simple Guide

Heather had a young, light-green succulent with chunky leaves, about 6 inches tall, producing babies at the base and long reddish aerial roots from leaf nodes. She asked if those were roots and whether she could cut belo

Porcupine-Like Green Spikes on a Skinny Trunk: Yucca (Joshua Tree)

Mike described a porcupine with long green spikes curled in a ball on a skinny trunk. Chris guessed Yucca (Joshua tree) and suggested image search. Note Chris apologized for a garbled prior reply.

Is This a Jade Plant? Fuzzy Leaves & Yellowing Explained

Karen bought a small plant sold as a jade plant (Crassula ovata), but its leaves were soft green and fuzzy rather than dark and shiny. Within a week, leaves began turning yellow-brown. She asked if she had a jade plant a

Fuzzy, Pale Green "Jade" Turning Yellow: Not a Jade, Need Photo

Karens new jade had soft, fuzzy, pale green leaves (not dark/shiny) turning yellow/brown. Assessment Not a jade. Could be a Kalanchoe, Cotyledon, or other fuzzy succulent. Yellowing from bottom up = root issue; top down

Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) Care Basics

Don received Cycas revoluta and wanted care tips. Resource Expert not a cycad specialist. Referred to Desert Tropicals page for detailed info. Cycads are generally low-maintenance.

Identifying a Trailing Waxy-Leaf Plant: Hoya (Wax Plant)

Christine sought a plant from youth: oval, thick, waxy leaves; tan stems; trailing/vining; heavy green leaves; cold-sensitive. ID Hoya carnosa (wax plant) or other Hoya species. Tropical milkweed family (Apocynaceae), no