Ocotillo Leaf Drop in Fall: Normal Drought Response, Not Drip Irrigation

Planted Spring, Looked Great, Now Losing Leaves in High Desert An ocotillo planted last spring sprouted leaves, looked great, now lost most leaves in fall. Owner uses drip irrigation near Victorville, CA (high desert).

Trimming 8-10 ft Cacti Growing Through Patio Screen: Need ID First

New Homeowner: Tall Cacti Through Screen, Wants 3-4 ft Cut Back Recently purchased home has 8–10 ft cacti growing through patio screen. Owner needs trimming instructions. Critical: Cactus vs. Euphorbia Greg says the tec

Agave americana Shriveling at Base: Agave Beetle or Overwatering?

Large 15-Year Agave: Base Leaves Black, Losing Firmness A 5–6 ft Agave americana in the Southwest desert shows shriveled stalk bases, a few black basal leaves (removed), rest blue-green. Lawn sprinklers run 4–5 min daily

Scabby Cacti: Reader Rates Expert Poorly, Greg Responds

Light Brown Scabs Spreading on 70% of Collection After Record Heat A long-time grower describes blisters of crackly light brown scabs on medium cacti. In the past, cutting out small spots worked; now 70% affected after r

Pruning Overgrown Balcony Cacti: Timing and Technique

High-Rise Balcony Cacti Hitting Ceiling—Can They Be Cut? Cacti in an outdoor planter on a high-rise balcony are hitting the ceiling and twisting. Owner asks if and how to cut them back. Yes, But Wait for Spring If Possi

Small Cactus Growing Sideways White Sprouts: Etiolation from Low Light

County Fair Cactus: Three White Side Shoots at Top A childs free fair cactus has three white sprouts growing sideways from the top. Owner asks what and why. Cause: Insufficient Light Greg says theyre likely branches str

Cactus Identification: Ferocactus and Echinopsis Hybrids

Two Unknown Cacti from UBC Forum Thread A reader links to a UBC Botanical Garden forum thread with photos of two cacti received recently, asking for ID and age estimate. Gregs Tentative IDs Left plant: Ferocactus, poss

Winter Watering for Indoor Cacti Under Lights: Sulcorebutia & Neochilenia

Two Rare Cacti Under 12-Hour Lights: Watering Frequency? A grower has Sulcorebutia rauschii (non-grafted) and Neochilenia occulta (grafted) under lights 12 hrs/day. Currently watering every 2 weeks when dry. Asks if this

Medicinal Cacti: Nopal, Hallucinogens, and Heart Tonics

Beyond Nopal: Other Medicinal Cacti? A reader asks about cacti used medicinally, specifically as a heart tonic, beyond Opuntia (nopal) and Cereus grandiflorus. Gregs Take: Most Medicinal Cacti Are Hallucinogenic Greg st

Mammillaria elongata Rotting at Base: Re-rooting in Proper Soil

Golden Star Cactus: Upper Parts Alive, Roots Dead A 2-year-old Mammillaria elongata is dying at the root; upper stems look alive. Dead parts removed; some root strands remain. Owner used regular potting soil, repotted th

Yucca Plant Lost Leaves: Likely Needs Replacement

One of Ten New Yuccas Snapped at Base—Bird Damage? Ten yuccas planted 3 months ago; one lost all leaves (appears snapped). Owner asks if it will regrow or should be replaced. Replace It Greg says that one needs replacem

Madagascar Palm Losing Leaves Indoors: Dormancy, Not Disease

Pachypodium lamerei Leaf Drop After Moving Inside Two Madagascar palms (one 6-month-old, one smaller) were outside all summer, repotted in fall, and brought indoors for winter. Leaves are turning black and falling off de

Aloe Vera Dying from Base Up: 95% Brown, Likely Unsalvageable

Indoor Aloe Vera in Illinois: Rapid Browning from Soil Up An aloe vera stem from a store was green but not growing since August. Now, in cold weather indoors, 95% of the stem is brown. Owner seeks saving suggestions. Ve

Freeze-Damaged Aloe: Oozing Leaves, Odor, but Crown Intact

Large Aloe After Freeze: Droopy, Water-Filled Leaves, Armpit Smell An aloe left outside during a freeze/snow now has thick, heavy leaves oozing water, drooping, and emitting a foul odor. The center is firm and doesnt pul

Christmas Cactus Cuttings: Callus Time, Soil, and Rooting Aids

Correct Procedure for Rooting Christmas Cactus Segments A gardener asks if Christmas cactus cuttings should heal (callus) for two weeks without water, then go into cactus soil. Gregs Refined Method Callus time: 1–2 wee

Saguaro Spines Turning Black: Normal Aging, Not Disease

Black Spine Tips on Three Saguaros—Others Unaffected Three saguaros have spines turning black (mid-stem on two, top on one). Plants otherwise look healthy. Owner asks if this is normal or a problem. Spines Are Dead Tiss

Cereus Cacti Turning Yellow in Florida: Heat, Drought, and Fertilizer

Three 5-Foot Cereus Yellowing Despite Good Flowers and Fruit In Central Florida, three Cereus cacti (planted by a pro, southern exposure) are yellowing but remain firm, flowered well, and set fruit. A 10-10-10 fertilizer

Frozen Grafted Cacti: Mushy Base Means They're Gone

Three Grafted Cacti Left in Cold: Two Have Mushy Bases A gardener brought three grafted cacti in from the cold after neglect. Two have mushy, dark-green bases (the rootstock), and one shows slight discoloration at the gr

Dying 55-Year-Old Cereus: Extreme Weather Damage and Propagation

Mature Cereus peruvianus Turning Gray and Woody A 55-year-old Cereus peruvianus on a front lawn shows large gray, woody sections and dying newer stalks. The owner asks if its a natural cycle or something else. Double We

White Powder on Burro's Tail: Natural Glaucous Bloom, Not Disease

Uniform White Film on Sedum morganianum A hanging burros tail has a consistent, thin, wipe-off white powder over the entire plant—not spotty like powdery mildew. The owner wonders if its natural or a problem. Its Glauco