The cassia will be good, but you're right, it might take some time. If you can put up some shade cloth and have some misting system going just the increase in humidity could help. But you'd need to shelter from wind as well. A strong dry wind would take away all the effects of misting very rapidly. A number of plants drop leaves with changing situations. I get various trees losing leaves at different times. By the time the last of the old leaves have fallen the tree is full of new leaves opening out again. Mostly it happens with the change of conditions between wet and dry. Although, my African Mahogany drop a lot of leaves at the start of spring when we get out hottest weather. Looking up at the tree tops you don't notice the loss of leaves as they're being replaced simultaneously. But the ground is deep with them.

Aparlato, since this condition is occurring to all your plants, the blame cannot fall on something about the individual plants. So.....it has to be something you are doing to the plants...overall. I must ask a question: Are you on a well, and do you have a water-softening agent ---such as salt to make your water less hard? That in itself could be the reason why your plants are suffering. The salt build-up would take time to act on the plants....but seeing as how all your complaints are happening at the same time, I suspect its something that can come about because of something that is being done to all of them.....such as watering them. If this might be the case; I suggest you do a thorough leaching. Sinks, bathtub and such... since these faucets would hardly be OFF the system, you would have to find a tap that is not. Or, gather rain-water---or snow....and melt this. Let the water gain room temperature....then fill a tub or large pot with sufficient water to allow you to immerse the pots entirely in the water. Allow the bubbles to cease. This serves two purposes: It puts water entirely throughout the soil and if there are any bugs in the soil, they would have to come to the surface to breathe. There, you dispose of them. It is also a very good way to thoroughly rid the soil of harmful salts---either from too much fertilizer...or possibly as I suggest...as on a water-softening system. Treat this as a watering. Allow full drainage and put your plants in their respective sun. If you feel it is necessary, you might decide to change the soil instead. A fresh potting soil with lots of vermiculite. Just be sure to not use such softened water from any of the taps on the system. Usually a home will allow a tap or two to be OFF the system....for watering the lawns, washing the car...etc This could be thought of....gather water there and hold for plant use. If you are not on a water-softening system, such a happening to many plants at the same time I suspect still you are overwatering---perhaps you water as per schedule...and not according to how the plants need watering Your plants....succulents, hold water in their leaves as a resevoir and can take dry periods for a time. As long as they aren't allowed to go completely dry, they should be able to withstand some dryness without being badly affected. You might, when the first sign of limp....or wilt occurs, give your plants a thorough watering.....to the drainage point. Then dump the excess...never leave your plants sitting in such drainage for any extended time. Then allow them to dry down a bit between watering.....then water to drainage.

Momto4kids - Hopefully you're still following this thread. I remember way back when you got your counters rehoned on site. A couple of years ago, DD made a batch of "lemonade" on our island, squeezing an entire bottle of lemon juice on it in the process. I have lived with it, but I had a marble restoration company come out to give us a quote - we are replacing the mantle on the fireplace in our DR and need to have the slate refinished - so I figured while we were at it, we'd do the counter. I recall you saying it was fairly inexpensive to do - the first company, who apparently does a lot of work for an Ivy League college, came out and quoted us $2000 for the job (and told us it was a 2 day job). My jaw hit the floor. The next company quoted us $450 for both the fireplace and the counter and said it would take 3 hours or so. Do you mind telling me how much it cost you? I want the job done right, but I don't want to get taken, either. TIA!

My name isn’t Justin and I don’t work for Costa Farms, but I will try to help you Camille:). Your cactus is Mammillaria vetula subs. gracilis cv. Arizona Snowcap, but if you‘re ever looking for more info you can easily type in Mammillaria ‘Arizona Snowcap’ instead of the long name I gave you in green, which is a link that will give you info on your cactus. Idk if you know this, but the new spines won’t be blue or yellow, they will be white. This cactus is a slowww grower. I personally think the first thing with any plant growing is knowing what plant you have and a little bit about the plant. If these were mine I would unpot, gently remove as much of the old soil off the roots as you can , and repot in a better faster draining mix like a perlite and or pumice mixed with cheap cactus soil. The pots look like the right size, if they’re root bound you can go up one pot size. After repotting cactus I wait about a week or two and then water them. It’s the start of the growin season so now is a great time to do this. If you live on the Northern Hemisphere of course. During the winter this cactus should be kept totally dry. I know that may sound nuts, but it’s normal when growing cactus. Many of my cactus got their first drink of water since late October a few days ago. Like my Mammillaria duwei Before After Any pieces that have fallen off set on top of the mix and they’ll root eventually. It could take months for this process so be patient and leave them be. Any rootless pieces should be kept in bright filtered sun, especially when it starts to get hot because the rootless little pieces will fry. Lastly, during the growing season your cactus may need to more sun than what’s being provided, so slowly acclimating it to more sun is probably in its future.