A few summers ago, a number of my Weber’s agaves had rotted. Was I watering them too much, or did the agave snout weevil kill them? I’d like to figure out what happened, so I can prevent more damage in the future. So, did the agave snout weevil kill my agaves? Did the agave snout […]
Did the agave snout weevil kill my agaves? Read More »
Out of all the agaves I have in my landscape, most of my neighbors have told me that my butterfly agave (Agave potatorum) is their favorite. They love its symmetrical shape, its interesting leaves and spines, and its blue-gray leaves that include a tinge of green. So, what are the butterfly agave care guidelines? But
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I often see the paper spine cactus (Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus) offered for sale in the garden centers of many big-box DIY stores. It’s an easy-to-grow succulent that has long, white, paper-thin spines growing on egg-shaped segments. This cactus can be grown outdoors (depending on your hardiness zone) or indoors—here’s how to grow the paper
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To me, spider plants add a tropical vibe to indoor living spaces. But, are they really drought-tolerant plants that thrive with only a little water? So, here are my thoughts: are spider plants drought-tolerant? Spider plant care guidelines But first, let’s look at the guidelines to care for spider plants. Then, we should have our
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One day, I noticed that my Opuntia cactus had a few pads covered with a white, sticky substance. To me, it looked like a fungus. In reality, though, the white substance was harboring an infestation of the cochineal bug (Dactylopius coccus). If you’ve had this problem, read more to find out how to eliminate cochineal
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I used to have four golden barrel cacti (Echinocactus grusonii) in front of my house—they were over 40 years old. They were healthy and beautiful specimens. Imagine my horror, though, when I saw the formerly green flesh of one of my favorite barrel cactus turning yellow. I had no idea that Pythium root rot had
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While other plants are wilting under the hot southwestern summer sun, my red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) is looking its most vibrant. The hotter it gets, the greener this hardy plant seems to get, and its flowers become even more flamboyantly showy. But, there must be some drawbacks! Read about the red bird of
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The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) epitomizes the Old West. It gets big, it’s tough, and it can take the heat. In fact, the saguaro cactus not only looks majestic in its natural habitat, but it can also make a big statement in your landscape. Read about the saguaro cactus pros and cons, and see if
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I only have one Mexican Blue Palm (Brahea armata) in my landscape, but I wish I had more. They are a beautiful, exotic-looking palm tree that loves the desert heat, just like I do. However, would this palm tree work in your landscape? Read about the Mexican blue palm pros and cons, and then decide
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