| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
|
| Can an ocotillo be pruned? | 4/16/2009 | Joan |
Q: Can an ocotillo be pruned? If so, is there a certain time of year that is should be done? My friend ...
A: Yes, you can prune ocotillo. Unlike cacti, these will not leave permanent scars. However, new growth ...
|
| New Decorative Cactus | 4/14/2009 | Joan |
Q: I recently bought 3 tiny cacti from ikea, I know weird place but they were cute and the instructions ...
A: The instructions seem to correct, but incomplete. You asked about watering. Water to moist the soil ...
|
| Cactus rotting at bottom | 4/11/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a cactus I moved to a larger pot exactly 3 weeks ago. Today I noticed two of the three stalks ...
A: It looks like you used inproper repotting procedures. When you repot, you should plant the cactus ...
|
| Aloe with deformities | 3/9/2009 | Joan |
Q: I "inherited" a very large aloe bed at our new house. I have no idea how old the plants are and I ...
A: Unfortunately, this is a really bad condition, especially since it is at the base of the plant. My ...
|
| emergency | 3/7/2009 | Joan |
Q: Can someone please help me I have 1 1/2 foot of yucca plant that my dog broke off at ground level I ...
A: Survival may vary depending on the damage. The base is the most important part, which enables new ...
|
| Argentine Giant | 3/2/2009 | Joan |
Q: We have had an Argentine Giant in our yard for 5 years. Just a few days ago I noticed that it is ...
A: It may have been cause by symmetrical arm growth. Does the cactus have arms growing opposite of each ...
|
| todem pole cactus | 3/2/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a very healthy tp cactus i was wondering if i could take arms about 2 foot sections off and ...
A: You can only slice the joints. So if you are going to propagate, you must slice from the bottom ...
|
| newbie | 3/1/2009 | Joan |
Q: I just got my first cactus a 'moon cactus' or a Gymnocalycium as it says on the label. I have ...
A: Here are the basics: Light Requirement for Ruby Ball Cactus: Full Sun to Bright Light Water ...
|
| white sploches on broad leaf cactus | 2/26/2009 | Joan |
Q: several differnet broad leaf cactus have begun showing large white round spots at this point cannot ...
A: The white patches (which look like cotton} is what is known as cochineal scale. It was actually ...
|
| Soft Leaf Yucca | 2/24/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a few questions on this plant, can they be trimmed(the extra shoots or heads)? how successful ...
A: Translplanting offshoots is fairly easy, but tricky. You may have to wait until the offsoots have a ...
|
| cactus | 2/15/2009 | Joan |
Q: I've loved this cactus for 10 years, last night we had a wind storm and a shingle blew off of my ...
A: Sorry for the late response. For some reason, AllExperts was not notifying me questions. Regardless, ...
|
| Strange Seed-Looking things | 2/13/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a red/orange moon cactus that has a long green body and a round red/orange head sort of ...
A: Yikes! These aren't seeds at all. It looks like your cactus has cochineal scale, a parasitic insect. ...
|
| cactus | 2/3/2009 | Joan |
Q: How difficult is it to transplant a barrel cactus that is established?
A: It may be required that you will have to yank off some of the roots. Depending on its size, you ...
|
| pruning Peruvian apple cactus | 2/2/2009 | Joan |
Q: We have a Peruvian apple cactus with one main stack about 6ft tall and one arm (from the base) about ...
A: Just to let you know by now, the cactus will not look attractive if arms are cut off. It leaves ...
|
| yellowing cactus | 2/1/2009 | Joan |
Q: We've had this cactus for a year now and replanted it when we bought it. We live in Florida and ...
A: This may be caused by 2 reasons: Overwatering or lack of light. My best guess is overwatering. This ...
|
| Polaskia Chichipe asap | 1/29/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have Polaskia Chichipe around 30 inches tall with 3 arms coming of the main stem, over the winter ...
A: Overwatering. Overwatering. Overwatering. Overwatering. (Oops, I have just overwatered this answer ...
|
| totem pole cactus | 1/27/2009 | Joan |
Q: My totem pole cactus is very healthy. It is starting to get many arms growing out of it. One of the ...
A: You may propagate the broken arm by cutting. Here is my website that shows you how to do root ...
|
| Barrel cactus division | 1/27/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a healthy barrel cactus, in my yard, which has a number of good sized babies which I would ...
A: Removing offsprings can be tricky. Depending on the size of the shovel, you may need to do this ...
|
| Aloe Vera | 1/24/2009 | Joan |
Q: We received an aloe vera cutting the other day with no roots on the stalk. We put it in water to get ...
A: It is definitely not a good idea to place in the water. Remember that all cactus and succulents ...
|
| white patches on my cactus | 1/23/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have quite a few cactus plants, and on 2 of my larger plants I have found large white patches on ...
A: The white patches (which look like cotton} is what is known as cochineal scale. It was actually ...
|
| Prickly pear cactus cutting | 1/21/2009 | Joan |
Q: I recently cut a pad from a prickly pear and planted it. It has been in the pot for about 2 months ...
A: This is strange; I've never seen something happen like this. You may be right, the cactus buds may ...
|
| Cactus Spines | 1/19/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a potted Austrocylindropuntia Subulata. "He" was once small and without spines/needles. Two ...
A: Your cactus has probably matured over the years. I was suggesting leaving part of the spine on, that ...
|
| Cactus Spines | 1/18/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a potted Austrocylindropuntia Subulata. "He" was once small and without spines/needles. Two ...
A: It is important for you to know that it is best to leave the plants at its natural way of life. But ...
|
| Cereus chalybaeus | 1/17/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a large Cereus chalybaeus that has done beautifully for years with many fruit and lovely ...
A: I wasn't able to determine the webs you mentioned, as the image you provided didn't have much ...
|
| how to replant catcus | 1/13/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have 6 small different cactus all about 4-5 inches tall given to me in cups over 10 years ago. ...
A: I don't think it would do harm, as long as they don't embed each other, especially if it is one of ...
|
| !! ASAP: I dont knw how to care for cactii! :( | 1/12/2009 | Joan |
Q: I read some of ur previous answers to people and i'm really impressed by your knowledge on cactii. ...
A: The pictures you linked to me are definitely cacti. Q#1: No, these are cultivated house cacti, ...
|
| Saguaro | 1/12/2009 | Joan |
Q: I was given a Saguaro cactus in a pot for Christmas, it is about 2 and a half or 3 feet tall. I ...
A: You should transplant your cactus when the pot may no longer support it. A test I call ...
|
| Cactus Dying - poisoned by exterminator | 1/12/2009 | Joan |
Q: purchased it. My house was sprayed for bedbugs and apparently, the exterminator sprayed the cactus. ...
A: Cut off all leafs (or columns for some cacti) and root them using the instructions given on my ...
|
| Yucca re-rooting | 1/3/2009 | Joan |
Q: I have a "mound-lily" Yucca which has had 2 of it's 4 branches snap with the weight of snow (which ...
A: You may have to root the branches, otherwise they will slowly dry. Copy and paste the following link ...
|
| Cacti identification | 12/15/2008 | Joan |
Q: I have a cactus that I have been trying to identify for years. It is an aloe but I'd like to know ...
A: It think your aloe is an immature "Aloe ferox" because of the dots in the middle of the leafs I saw ...
|
| Aloe vera | 12/14/2008 | Joan |
Q: very healthy, mutiplying plant throughout summer. When cold weather stricks, plant turns brownish, ...
A: Aloe vera is one of the most common types of aloe here in Las Vegas. It is normal if the plant turns ...
|
| saguaro&cholla | 12/12/2008 | Joan |
Q: can i grow a saguaro or cholla cactus outdoors in north carolina? if so, how large would it have to ...
A: I'm not familiar with the climate of North Carolina, but I will show you the conditions a saguaro ...
|
| Identify / ??? | 12/8/2008 | Joan |
Q: The cactus in the picture, I don’t know what it is, my mother brought it back from the Virgin ...
A: I believe this is a Golden Barrel cactus. Propagation can be peerformed in two ways: Seed and ...
|
| leaning Thompson yucca | 12/7/2008 | Joan |
Q: I have several Thompson's that are leaning and one is on the ground. The roots are in the ground ...
A: If the leaning starts at the ground (as if it is not steady, and wants to tip over), than the soil ...
|
| Golden Barrel Cactus | 12/7/2008 | Joan |
Q: I recentley bought and Golden Barrel Cactus and transplanted it into a new pot. It is about 10" in ...
A: Yes, you should not water at all during the cold months of winter. Maybe a couple of waterings every ...
|
| coral cactus | 12/6/2008 | Joan |
Q: I got this coral cactus last February and kept it in the house until summer. I watered it once a ...
A: It is your prediction whether the base cactus won't or will support the newer stalk. If you think it ...
|
| Rapidly | 12/4/2008 | Joan |
Q: I have a blue agave that is about 1 year old, I planted it outside early June 2008, it gets lots of ...
A: At this point, you should not water your agave. Like cacti, agaves should not be watered during the ...
|
| Christmas cactus | 12/4/2008 | Joan |
Q: I have a huge Christmas cactus that sets many,many buds every year but when they open they are ...
A: There may be several reasons for this. One, you may be over watering. Is the soil always moist? ...
|
| Problem with cactus | 12/4/2008 | Joan |
Q: Joan, I have a 10 year old cactus (not sure what type) that grows leaves on the top and is almost 3 ...
A: Deciding to cut down the dying parts depends on the structure of your cactus. If it has multiple ...
|
| Problem with cactus | 12/4/2008 | Joan |
Q: Joan, I have a 10 year old cactus (not sure what type) that grows leaves on the top and is almost 3 ...
A: Have you overwatered it recently? It might be too cold, or it isn't getting enough sunlight. It ...
|
