A New Split Rock Bloom

I recently rescued this little split rock from one of the big box stores, and it rewarded me with this purple bloom. Most of my other split rocks and other plants of this type tend to have yellow or orange flowers, so this was a nice change. As you can see, this...

Aloinopisis Aloides

These little South African succulents always surprise me when they bloom. I never seem to realize there is a bud getting ready to open, and then there it will be. They bloom in the fall here since they originate below the Equator and their seasons are not the same as...

Rooting Succulents

Have a succulent you really like and want another one or two just like it? Seeds are an option, but I don’t seem to have much luck with that method. Instead, I rely on cuttings and rooting leaves. I googled the subject of rooting succulents and came up with all kinds...

Tiger Jaws-Faucaria Tigrina

Faucaria tigrina, commonly called tiger jaws because of the shape of the leaves and the fact they have teeth-shaped appendages on the edges of the leaves that give the appearance of an open mouth full of teeth, are from South Africa. Mine tend to bloom late in the...

Ariocarpus Retusus and Ariocarpus Trigonus

I bought my first ariocarpus several years ago, maybe around 2005 or earlier, an ariocarpus retusus, and it just sort of sat there. Time passed and it finally grew enough to be repotted. Then last year in the fall it surprised me with a bloom. And then this year,...

Mammillaria Spinosissima v. Pilcayensis

When I bought this little cactus probably in  2008 or so-unfortunately that was when I wasn’t keeping up with details like names and dates-it was just two little cylindrical plants about two inches long attached at the base and forming a V-shape. I had nothing...