Growing Cactus

It's easy to confuse the Easter cactus with the Christmas cactus at first glance; their flowers are similar. But there's one big, obvious difference: Each one blooms around the time of the holiday...

Container gardening is a creative way to plant an abundant variety of plants in areas where traditional gardening is not feasible or space is limited. Planting in unusual containers, boxes or...

If you're looking for a truly unusual house plant, consider growing living stones, one of the strangest of them all. Living stones, or lithops, look like small rounded stones that naturally...

The wooly rose succulent is a member of the Echeveria family in the genus Crassulaceae. This plant is easy to care for because it needs little attention. The most striking feature of the wooly...

Like the more familiar Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus is a flowering jungle cactus. Because this cactus originated in the jungle rather than the arid regions common among cactus plants, its...

Similar to the Christmas cactus, the Easter cactus is a tropical cactus that blooms during the Easter holiday. The Easter cactus is a jungle cactus, meaning it can stand more humidity and water...

The yucca plant belongs to the Agave family and is native to hot and arid climates. It grows on several continents and nowadays is a very common houseplant as well, often appreciated for its long...

Air plant is the common name for the tillandsia plant, a species that lives and grows without soil. They survive by clinging to another plant. This type of plant is called an epiphyte.

Orchid cacti (Epiphyllums) are native to rainforests. The hybridized domesticated orchid cactus blooms for only one or two days once each year. They can be kept outside as long as they are not in...

Queen of the night plants are in the cacti family, and, as the name suggests, they produce a spectacular, fragrant, white flower that opens in the nighttime, closing during daylight. Native to the...

The cereus peruvianus monstrosus cactus plant is commonly known as the curiosity plant. This plant grows well in desert climates, and is characterized by its tall, bumpy appearance. The curiosity...

You can grow cacti from cuttings instead of using seeds. This decreases the grow time and allows you to produce many cacti with the same genetic material. Cactus cuttings sometimes die from rot...

The orchid cactus is a member of the Epiphyllum family, a type of jungle cactus native to the jungles of Latin America and Mexico. These plants often grow in crevices between rocks or in tree...

The good luck cactus is an emerald and ruby-toned cactus with delicate petals. Its formal name is Euphorbia trigona. Like most cactus, the good luck cactus can only be grown outdoors in very hot...

Lithops are sometimes called living stones or flowering stones because they resemble pebbles. Most lithops cactus plants resemble two small gray or brown lumps joined together at the center in the...

The woolly rose is a succulent plant. Succulents have the capability of storing water in their leaves, stems or roots. This built-in mechanism allows them to live through times of drought and...

Although we don't always think of sedum as a plant that should be cut back, longer varieties of sedum can become long and unwieldy. Their weight can cause them to flop over, making them look flat...

As a member of the cactus family, Mammillaria mystax makes a colorful, low-maintenance houseplant. Native to the deserts of Mexico and the Southwest United States, the ball-shaped Mammillaria...

Epiphyllum, also called orchid cactus, is a member of the cacti family native to the jungles of Central and South America and Mexico. Native plants grow flowers in shades or white or red but...

The kalanchoe thyrsiflora is easily recognized by its distinct foliage. When given enough sun, the large disc-shaped leaves develop a bright red or pink band that highlight the edges of the...

The joy of seeing the rosy-red flowers of the Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri, formerly Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) each spring is one reason it is a celebrated houseplant. Its ease of culture,...

Propagating desert plans is fun, easy way to add interest to your garden. The three basic methods for propagating desert plants are: growing from seed; growing from cuttings; and growing from...

Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is a night blooming succulent cactus of the type called an epiphyte. Oxypetalum is also called 'Dutchman's Pipe' after the trailing habit of the flower buds which resemble...

The jade plant is a beautiful, glossy green houseplant that ages well and can pass from generation to generation. People who dabble in bonsai plants love this attractive shrub. A succulent plant,...

Yucca plants have tall blooming spikes and broad, sword-like leaves. Although native to desert climates, their hardiness and size have made them popular landscaping plants in other regions. If...

The century plant (Agave americana) is found in arid parts of Mexico and the southwestern U.S. and is becoming a popular landscape plant in USDA horticultural zones 8 through 11. Although it is...

Orchid cacti produce large white blooms that flower at night. The flowers originate from South America and the West Indies. In order to make the most of their blooms, use them to decorate dinners...

Cacti are spiny, desert-dwelling plants with tough outer skins. They come in all shapes and sizes, many bearing prickly fruit and brightly colored flowers. The cacti themselves also vary in color,...

The Easter cactus has long lasting blooms that thrive in cool weather and is especially adaptable to being a houseplant. Originally grown in the jungles, this cactus has pointed leaves and...

Aloe vera is a succulent with useful medicinal properties. Inside the aloe plant is a gel that can be used to heal cuts, scrapes, stings and other minor skin irritations. Although aloe can be...

The Madagascar palm is a succulent that is commonly used as a houseplant. Known for their spiky trunks, Madagascar palms are relatively easy to care for and can grow to be rather large. Even...

Agave cactus is an evergreen plant of the Agavaceae family. This succulent plant species has adapted to life in the desert by forming fleshy leaves, waxy cuticles and roots that store extra water....

Aloe variegata is an extremely useful and easy-to-grow plant. This plant is probably one of the most useful plants known. Its natural healing properties and ability to soothe irritated, injured or...

The cactus species that grow in the desert regions of the states like Utah, New Mexico, California and Arizona all possess flowers that allow the plant to reproduce. Identifying these cactus...

The Madagascar palm is a succulent plant with a trunk that is completely covered with semi-poisonous needles. Because it is recommended that owners of Madagascar palms repot or replants their...

Aloe Ferox, also known as Cape Aloe is the largest cactus in the aloe family, sometimes reaching 9 feet tall. It originates from South Africa and features large, fleshy, succulent-type leaves that...

The nopal is a type of edible cactus native to Mexico. Itl is commonly called the prickly pear, and its pads and fruit can be cooked into casseroles, blended into drinks or eaten in sandwiches. ...

Originally native to Mexico, the Agave Parryi cactus spends the majority of its life as a spiky ball of thick leaves around one foot in height. The Agave Parryi can take many years to flower, but...

Succulents thrive in arid environments with warm, dry, sandy soils that are drenched occasionally with torrential rainfall. Succulents store water in their leaves which are thick and fleshy. Their...

Aloe vera is a medicinal succulent with long spring green blades that contain a thick sap.The blades have small teeth-like notches, but these are not sharp. Occasionally, mature aloe vera plants...

Cacti are known to be resilient plants. Not all cacti have flowers that bloom because some cacti are self-pollinating. The flowers are usually on the plant for short periods, in some cases...

Though it's usually done by insects, wind, bats, birds and mice, you too can pollinate cactus flowers to produce fruit and seeds. It's easy, fun and inexpensive, and the seeds you help produce...

With its glossy, full leaves in bright green and red tinged edges, the jade plant, also known as the money plant or the dollar plant, brightens any room. Propagation of the jade plant is by...

Having a reputation for being some of the easiest succulents to grow, the jade plant is native to South Africa and is often referred to as the elephant bush, money tree or small-leaf jade. These...

Succulent plants, such as cacti, thrive in high daytime temperatures so when fall comes around, you want to protect (winterize) your botanical before the first winter freeze. These water-retaining...

Flowering cacti are ideal houseplants for travelers. While they require exposure to sunlight they can go two to four weeks between waterings and only need occasional pruning. There are many types...

The desert rose is a cactus plant of African origin that develops bright pink or red flowers. The desert rose has a large pear-shaped trunk with small clusters of leaves that develop these vivid...

The jade plant is an easy-to-grow succulent. Jade plants can grow into small shrubs and have fleshy, green leaves that resemble the jade stone. There may be several reasons why a jade plant may...

Agave plants are succulents with about 200 recognized species. Most agave plants are hardy and thrive in desert conditions. Care for agave with proper planting and tend to the plant's thermal,...

Cacti are very popular as potted plants or as an enhancement to landscaping because they do not require much water, can sprout very beautiful flowers and live for many years. Caring for a grown...