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Cacti & Succulents

Need Help Identifying Cacti and Succulent and general advice on both.

Harry- -Shopshire, England

6 years ago

I've just brought these two plants, one is a Cacti and the Other a Succulent, (I think)

I've tried finding the species of both but no luck there's too much different information online.

The Cactus came with a lovely zinc pot (no drainage holes) which is what drew my attention. The soil looks really nice and nourishing.

Do I need to repot it? Also how often and how much do I need to water it?

The Succulent, I think it's a type of Aloe but I was put off my the strange shape and purple stems.

Are the Splits in the (leaves??) going to harm it? Is it supposed to be Purple?

Also the Standards:

How often and how much do I water? Do I need to repot it?

Featured Answer

Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Your cactus is Mammillaria spinosissima aka Red Headed Irishman cactus:). Do the same mix as your Pilo:).

The other succulent is a Faucaria tigrina. Looks fine slightly etiolated. Just acclimate to more light slowly. I would probably use the same mix as your cactus mix. I have one and he's grown so well. I barely pay attention to it. These are from South Africa so for us they're fall winter growers. I love it because in February when everything is gloom and doom these will pop out beautiful cheery yellow flowers. Here's some Info:) on these guys:).

Make sure all your pot have drainage holes. Wouldn't do the double pot thing like in your above pic. Just use a saucer if putting inside:).

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Comments (10)

Harry- -Shopshire, England
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you!! Really Really helpful!

It says 'keep cool' but in a greenhouse is this right? Could I just leave it on the windowsill where my Pilo is?
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I can only ID the last one positively, it’s a Portulacaria afra variegata. Please don’t grow any plants and especially a cacti or succ in a pot without any drainage holes, and it’s not advisable to keep those glass pebbles around them either, they won’t allow the mix to dry out properly. The soil mix they’re in looks very peaty and water retaining, ideally it needs changing else you will get problems with rotting as from what you have said you are new to plants. Please change all the soil and replant in a simple free draining mix of half good quality c/s mix and half sieved perlite or similar. All need placing in a very sunny spot and the Port a. will need slightly more water than the others. Plenty of additional info if you type a suitable question in the search box at the top and tick to search the c/s forum, come back here if you’re stuck though. Gill
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Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
6 years ago
Ya the windowsill should be fine:).

The Faucaria I wouldn't water for about a month. End of August would be good. I still water mine every 10 days or so in our summers, but I live in a very Mediterranean climate. My summers are hot and dry. So I throw them a bone every 10 days:). You won't have to throw them that bone probably. When fall and winter comes you can water. Always make sure your mix is dry before watering. You can use a wooden skewer and dip it to the bottom of the pot. If that skewer comes up damp anywhere wait to water.
Harry- -Shopshire, England thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
Harry- -Shopshire, England
Original Author
6 years ago
Should I repot the Faucaria now? it's just a very small pot or should I wait until I start watering it? (Late august)
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
6 years ago
I would wait for a month. Just keep him dry:).
Harry- -Shopshire, England thanked Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
Harry- -Shopshire, England
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you!
jim_bull
6 years ago
to Kara in the SF area...do you know of a Bay Area group that shares cuttings? I propogate succulents and would like to share mine and get new ones. Not on Facebook, know there are probably FB groups. Thanks, Jim
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
6 years ago
No I'm sorry I don't Jim.
Rachel Sonoran desert, AZ 9A
6 years ago
Where abouts are you Jim? I'm in Oakland. I'm only 1 person, not a group, but would love to exchange cuttings. Do you use Nextdoor? People in my area frequently use that to exchange various plants.
ewwmayo
6 years ago
For the Faucaria, I would water when the leaves start to shrivel and shrink a bit. They are opportunistic growers and I prefer to not let the roots stay too dry for too long. Needs quite a bit of light.

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