Pruning & Propagating a Leggy Christmas Cactus

Franks 2-year-old Christmas cactus had one 20-inch shoot with a 4-joint tip. He wanted a fuller, bushier plant. Pruning for Bushiness Cut at a joint; new shoots may emerge from the cut or base. Root the cuttings: let ca

Tiny Bugs in Cactus Roots & Mealybugs on Sempervivum/Sedum

Elaine found tiny black crawling bugs in cactus root soil (like dust), cottony masses on spines, and white deposits on Sempervivum and Sedum leaves. Two Separate Issues 1. Cactus/Succulent Root Pests Likely root mealybu

Forcing Prickly Pear to Flower: Patience Required

Toms seed-grown prickly pear, several years old, never flowered. He asked how to force blooms. Answer Cannot be forced. Prickly pears flower only at maturity, which can take many years from seed. Exact timing depends on

Finding a Home for a 40-Year-Old, 5-Foot Jade Plant

Sean needed to rehome a massive, heirloom jade plant from his grandparents Washington State home. Suggestions Post on GardenWeb Cactus & Succulent Forum with photos. Contact local cactus & succulent societies or garden

Growing Cacti in an Office With Only Artificial Light

Steve wanted small cacti for a windowless office with only artificial light. Reality Check Cacti will survive but not thrive without real sunlight. They need intense light for compact growth and flowering. Better Alterna

Removing Cactus on Texas Land: Burning Spines for Cattle Feed

Paul considered buying Texas land with heavy cactus cover. Hed heard of burning spines with a propane torch so cattle can eat the pads. Feasibility This is practiced (especially for spineless Opuntia cultivars or after b

Tall Apartment Cactus Losing Stems: Corking or Fungus?

Phillips tall, multi-stemmed cactus developed brown dry patches at the base, lost 3 of 6 stems, and one fell over with minimal roots. Assessment Brown patches: Could be corking (natural aging, harmless) or fungal infect

Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks) Cold Tolerance and Transplant Timing

Jan asked the coldest temperature Sempervivum tolerates and when to transplant. Answers Cold tolerance: Most survive -20°F to -30°F (-29°C to -34°C) if acclimated. First-year plants may need protection. Best transplant

Aloe Vera Fading Behind Plate Glass: Sunburn Through Glass

Seans aloe, behind a plate-glass window in a hot spot, faded and browned despite plenty of water. Cause Glass intensifies UV rays, causing sunburn even on sun-loving aloes. In nature, no glass filters/amplifies light. Fi

Weed Control in Prickly Pear Patches Without Killing Cacti

Ruth in Texas Hill Country wanted to eliminate grass/weeds in a prickly pear patch without harming the cacti. Limited Options Hand weeding is safest. Spot-treat with diluted glyphosate (Roundup) on actively growing weed

Propagating Prickly Pear: Cut, Callous, Plant

David wanted to take cuttings from his prickly pear and asked about callousing time and watering. Simple Protocol Cut a pad at the joint. Let the cut end callous 1–2 weeks in shade. Plant in moist (not wet) cactus mix.

Broken House Cactus: Both Pieces Can Be Saved

Marias 2-year-old, 9-inch, 6-sided cactus snapped off at the base during a move. Roots and base remained in the pot. Good News Both parts can survive. Base in pot: If not rotted, it will branch at the break. Top piece:

Pruning Overgrown Aeoniums: They Will Regrow

Normans two 3-foot bushy aeoniums were unwieldy in winter. He asked if cutting to 1 foot would kill them. Answer Yes, they will resprout from the cut points—either as new heads or side branches. Cut where desired; the re

Indoor Yucca Brown Tips: Natural Aging, Not Underwatering

Chaebers two 5-foot indoor yuccas developed 3–4 cm brown tips on older leaves over winter. New spring growth looked fine. Explanation Yuccas naturally shed lower leaves as they grow. The tips brown, then the whole leaf y

White Fuzzy Stuff on Prickly Pear: Mealybug Infestation

Franks prickly pears had white fuzz that turned purple when touched, washed off but returned, harming the plants. Identification Mealybugs—over 300 species. The purple color is diagnostic for some (e.g., Dactylopius spp.

Getting a Christmas Cactus to Rebloom

Carmels Christmas cactus bloomed once when new, then never again despite regular watering. Solution Blooming requires photoperiod control: 12–14 hours of uninterrupted darkness nightly for 6–8 weeks in fall, plus cool te

Underwatered Jades and Crassula 'Ivory Pagoda': Correcting the Schedule

Same question as 11846, but with a delayed, more detailed answer from Jeff. Core Message Monthly watering is insufficient for actively growing indoor succulents. The water when dry rule applies year-round unless the plan

Jade Plants Wrinkling & Crassula 'Ivory Pagoda' Stem Rot

Patricias two jades developed wrinkled leaves despite monthly watering in an east window. Her Crassula Ivory Pagoda had dark, dead stem bases but healthy tops. Diagnosis Jades: Wrinkled leaves = underwatering. Indoor he

Aloe Growth Cycles and Why Sedum 'Aurora' Died

Jos aloes (bought in autumn) dried from the bottom up in winter. She also lost two Sedum Aurora (jelly bean plant) the same way. She asked about aloe winter growth and watering. Aloe Growth Pattern Aloes grow from the ce

Tall Cactus with White Base Discoloration: Rot or Sunburn?

Amys 57 prized cactus showed white discoloration and softness at the base, with sagging arms. The expert feared rot (usually black, but can start white) or sunburn (often white initially). Critical Questions Is it a tru