Plant Basics

Cacti are members of the succulent family of plants, and as such have some special requirements. Most (but not all) cacti require a sandier, coarser soil. Fewer nutrients and less moisture are...

Rosette-shaped succulents, agave plants have sharp-tipped wide leaves and a blue, green or gray color. Because they grow slowly, agave plants thrive in pots. They absorb water with their roots and...

Agave plants have a rosette shape and wide, sharp-tipped leaves. Some have sharp spines along the stems. The succulents can be blue, green, or gray, are slow to grow, and die after flowering....

The Easter cactus is in the same family as the holiday cactus and the ever-popular Christmas cacti. The plants can easily be mistaken for one another in a store mainly because the customer often...

The Shaman and people of South American have long used San Pedro Cactus as a healing medicine. For more than 2,000 years, it's cuttings and extract have been known to treat joint pain, wounds and...

Agave plants are a type of succulent. The century plant is one of the better recognized and common agave plants, but there are many more varieties and they come in a range of colors, forms and...

Agaves are blue, green or gray succulents with a rosette shape. They have wide leaves with sharp points at the tips, grow slowly and die after flowering. The plants store water in their leaves,...

San Pedro cactus is a spiny succulent that grows in the desert and is known in both North and South America as a primary source of the psychedelic substance mescaline (along with the peyote...

The Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium Lamerei) is a plant native to southern Madagascar, but can be grown almost anywhere. It is in the cactus and succulent family of plants. It can be used as an...

Desert conditions are difficult on living things and those that adapt to it are tempting targets for other desert dwellers looking for food and moisture. This being the case, many desert pants...

Yuccas are a desert plant native to the Southwest United States, Mexico and parts of Central America. All of the hundreds of yucca cultivars have sword- or lance-shaped, medium green leaves...

Fixing a broken cactus is a simple as taking the damaged piece of cactus and replanting it. It should regrow in a couple months. Cactus are amazing plants and taking care of them when they break...

Getting a cactus to grow indoors depends on the type of cactus and the climate. Cactus typically don't require any more water or moisture than the air provides. Help a cactus thrive indoors by...

Succulents are those strange, thick-leaved plants found in pots and planters in homes throughout the world. Sometimes they have spikes, sometimes they don't, but they all have that thick, fleshy...

repotting a cacti without getting prickled

A cactus can become a house plant as long as the right steps and precautions are taken. Learn more in this free educational video series.

San Pedro cacti are beautiful plants that you can enjoy for years to come. However these desert plants will sometimes need a transplant every so often. If your San Pedro cactus is looking a little...

A Christmas cactus in full bloom is a colorful addition to the holiday season. Given the proper care it will produce beautiful blooms year after year, growing larger and more spectacular as time...

Christmas cacti are a popular plant but can be frustrating to re-bloom. Care givers with green thumbs scratch their heads, while those who ignore their plants in an empty room get great results....

Succulent plants, such as hen and chickens and aloe vera, contain water in their leaves. Well-adapted to desert conditions, succulents grow easily from cuttings. You can plant several types...