| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Propagation of Peruvian Apple | 5/20/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have what I believe is a Peruvian Apple cactus. I got it from an old neighbor who said it was a ...
A: Luis, Just make sure the part that you cut is green. If there is any "wood" in it (which happens ...
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| hens and chicks closing | 5/20/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I am in Georgia and recently my hens and chicks have completely closed up--and are yellowing. What ...
A: Kathy, Hens & chicks are not one of the plants I have a lot of experience with. However, usually ...
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| How do I trim my cactus? | 5/20/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Everyone told me that I could not grow a cactus in Wisconsin, but I'm must have one heck of a ...
A: Liza, You can easily trim off some of the "pads" without hurting the plant. Prickly Pear cactus or ...
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| prickly pear cactus | 5/19/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: We are new to Phoenix and cacti gardening. We have a large 5'x 5' prickly pear cactus in our back ...
A: Pat, Do I need to prune the cactus to keep this from happening again? If so, what is the correct ...
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| sand cactus (prickly pears) | 5/19/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Do you know any possible way of getting rid of cactus in the yard. They are taking over the yard. ...
A: Dawn, The only way I know is to introduce a bug called Cactoblastis cactorum, which in time will ...
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| outdoor yucca | 5/19/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have inherited several yuccas in the yard of an older house I just bought. Some are still brown ...
A: Sue, If you don't see any new growth from the center of the plant, it is probably dead and should ...
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| cactus surgeon | 5/19/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I just bought a tall Peruvian apple cactus (3 ft high, many columns). It was a bit of an impulse ...
A: Amy, What you did was called "grafting". It can work, although it is unlikely in your situation. ...
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| saguaro bud | 5/19/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I picked up a fresh bud that fell from a saguaro cactus. I would like to plant it in my yard. As I ...
A: Ray, Most likely what you found is a flower bud or a fruit. Neither of which can be rooted. ...
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| Propagation of Peruvian Apple | 5/17/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have what I believe is a Peruvian Apple cactus. I got it from an old neighbor who said it was a ...
A: Luis, Anytime will work, but now is best. You can cut it into 8" sections (minimum) and let them ...
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| euphorbia lactea | 5/17/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: my euphorbia lactea is becoming soft and falling dowen.
A: Noni, Unfortunately, that means it has rotted either because of very cold temperatures or too much ...
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| cactus broke at the tip | 5/17/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: While re-potting our (5 years old)cactus its tip broke. It's a cactus about 7 feet tall, 2 inches ...
A: Eugen, Some cacti are normally that way and creep along the ground. However, if your plant is ...
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| cactus broke at the tip | 5/17/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: While re-potting our (5 years old)cactus its tip broke. It's a cactus about 7 feet tall, 2 inches ...
A: Eugen, No, actually it should branch from the point that it has broken. If it is not at least 50% ...
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| Utah native Cactus | 5/16/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I live in West Valley city, Utah (zone 6). Last August I bought a Utah native Prickly Pear Cactus ...
A: Matt, Being inside has changed your plant. It is no longer able to take direct sunlight without ...
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| Ocotillo | 5/16/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: We just had an Ocotillo planted in our front yard. I see where it is mentioned to spray the plant ...
A: Dona, Yes, this is for freshly planted Ocotillos'. I usually make a mound of dirt around the base ...
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| repotting agaves | 5/16/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Greg, What is the general rule for transplanting Agaves? I am moving them from nursery plastic pots ...
A: Steve, You don't want to disturb the roots. The biggest problem is over watering. Typically, Agaves ...
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| moving cactus | 5/14/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have 2 pieces of property in the Texas Hill Country. On one property, I have multiple stands of ...
A: Charlotte, Actually now is a good time. You just need to make sure to orient the plants north/south ...
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| Cactus Dying? | 5/13/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: What can I do to save my cactus? It has been growing consistently over the past two years, stems ...
A: Mimi, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. It sounds like it is rotting from the bottom up. ...
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| aloe vera potted indoor plants | 5/11/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I'm having problems with an Aloe Vera plant that I inherited. I bought a bank of Pioneer Lights , 4 ...
A: Heath, I would back off the watering by a week or so. As far as direct sunlight, you are right. ...
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| Wild Prickly Pear | 5/11/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have a Prickly Pear Cactus that was "rescued" about five years ago from a South Dakota farm after ...
A: Rachel, Actually, the new stems could be flowers as they look very similar when small. What you may ...
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| planting cactus cuttings | 5/9/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: A few branches of what I think is an organ pipe cactus broke off at the joint from the mother plant ...
A: Edie, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I usually recommend at least a 2 week waiting ...
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| cactus/yacca | 5/9/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: how do i propergate a cutting from my yacca tree,thanks ANSWER: Annemarie, There are really only 2 ...
A: Annemarie, Nurseries have special set ups with very controlled temperatures, sunlight, watering, ...
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| Cactus Propogation | 5/8/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have an Easter Lily Cactus that I think you identified for me about a year ago. I would like to ...
A: Ed, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues that I ...
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| Spots on my Euphorbia Lactea Crest | 5/8/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have my lactea both inside and out, and they all have formed brown spots on the crest. As the ...
A: Gretchen, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues ...
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| night blooming cerus | 5/7/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: At one time time, my Grandmother had one of these plants. When it flowered, it was the most biggest ...
A: Stephen, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues ...
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| saguaru seedlings | 5/7/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Greg: I have a seeding saguaro packet purchased in Phoenix. Within 10 days virtually all of the ...
A: Jerry, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues that ...
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| cactus | 5/6/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I transplaned a cactus I've had for 10 years, Idon't remember the variety any more. It stands ...
A: Donna, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues that ...
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| sick hens and chicks | 5/6/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I gave a friend of mine many, many, baby hens and chicks and planted them in two huge pots. They ...
A: Tracy, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues that ...
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| Cacti.. | 5/6/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I'm a 7th grader currently working on a bizarre plant project. Cacti flourished in our county, but I ...
A: Heather, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues ...
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| cutting back or pruning mt ocotillo | 5/5/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Please help! My ocotillo seems to be growing at twice the speed of our neighbor's that was planted ...
A: Peg, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I have been having a lot of computer issues that I ...
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| alo vera | 5/2/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: can you grow aloe vera in the ground.
A: Debbie, Yes you can, it just depends where you live. Aloe vera will take some cold, but not below ...
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| cactus/yacca | 5/1/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: how do i propergate a cutting from my yacca tree,thanks
A: Annemarie, There are really only 2 ways, seed and separating the "pups" from the main plant. If ...
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| Brown and shrivel - whelp! | 4/30/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: i've adopted three mini cacti on a rescue mission from an old coworker. i'm worried about two of ...
A: Laurel, Sorry for the delay in my answer, I have been having computer issues lately. Generally ...
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| Saguaro's --- Trying to learn for purchase | 4/30/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: 1. Why is it suggested not to water them for 7-10 days after their transplant? Contrary to other ...
A: George, Sounds like it could be sunburn to me. Have him buy some shade cloth (Home Depot usually ...
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| Broken Cactus | 4/29/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: We recently moved. My husband mistakenly knocked over our cactus that we'd been growing for 10 ...
A: Caro, It sounds like your plant has rotted at the base. You can cut off the rotted part, make the ...
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| ocotillo not flowering | 4/28/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I planted a large ocotillo in Oct. of last year and to date, it has not turned green. It does have ...
A: Shannon, Look very closely at the stem. Is there green areas above each thorn? If so, your plant is ...
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| Aloe Vera plant yellowing | 4/27/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: For the past 5 years, my green cactus has grown beautifully here in Central Florida. It has produced ...
A: Deb, It is hard to say. You can try some fertilizer (like Superthrive for example). If it greens ...
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| Ocotillo Propagation | 4/27/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: I have an ocotillo that I'd like to get a cutting of to plant in another area of my yard. What's ...
A: JoAnn, Just use a pair of pruning shears or a hack saw. Don't take the cutting from to low on the ...
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| de-thorning cactus for trade show | 4/26/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Will clipping the sharp thorns from a cactus so that it can be used as the floral arrangement in a ...
A: Laura, I apologize for the delay in answering you, I have been having computer issues. On the ...
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| Transplanting mother-in-laws tungue | 4/26/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: Can I bury it some,or will it rot the base of plant? I just gave it a new pot because the plant had ...
A: Kim, I apologize for the delay in answering you, I have been having computer issues. I believe you ...
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| transplanting century plant | 4/25/2007 | Greg Simpson |
Q: My century plant is over 20 years old but has only thrived since I moved (it's almost the only plant ...
A: Eleanor, I apologize for the delay in answering you, I have been having computer issues. You are ...
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