Yes, as Duchesse said, I had a rose thorn stab that required surgery last summer. I had two sticks, actually, and my right index finger still isn't right. You'd think I'd have learned, yes? Wrong! I'm very, very good about putting on my gloves when I set out to work in the garden. But the dangerous times are when I'm walking past the garden, on my way in or out of the house, and I just happen to see a weed that needs to be pulled right that second. This is what I was doing yesterday when I took a thorn hit in that same index finger. It nicked a vein, which swelled up immediately, so I was a little concerned. But it's fine now. Whew! I will try to think of my self as wearing blinders when I'm not wearing gloves. I'm glad to hear your mom is okay, Bouquet.

OK.. first question: plant in orange pot is a Yucca elata planted a bit too shallowly (roots showing), but seems pretty happy that way Pachys have pretty wimpy root systems, and besides, they don't seem to give the least bit concern to having them injured, cut, torn etc., as long as they aren't enormous roots (and never seen one with enormous roots). They are super easy to move (root-wise). Spines and weight are bit more of a problem, but I have a great pair of cactus mitts that allow me to pretty much grab any cactus I want (with the one exception of a Pereskia) and pick it up... then weight and balance are the other problem, and they can break in half easily, so you need some support (like a bag of wadded up newspapers sitting on my shoulder). Then I have to stake them up for a few months until their wimpy root system takes over again and secures the plant. Don't think I've seen too many P namaquanums that didn't have wavy leaves.. .that is their main attraction I think. whenever one of my Pachys freeze, the top dies, rots a bit, and I either ignore it, or cut it off an angle (so water will not sit on the cut surface).. .it heals over and 3/4 of the time at least two heads will reappear... the other 1 time just one appears off to the side giving the plant an offset look. I think if it weren't for damage, most Pachypodiums would never branch. The Pachy in the rock does have a smidgeon of soil in there with it... but it basically lives on moisture from watering and some minute amounts of fertilize I rain down upon it now and then. Probably would be happier with more... yet it blooms every year. P brevicaules can grow up to about 6" tall, but I have never seen one taller My plants are nothing... there are hundreds, if not thousands of Pachys in so Cal MUCH larger in MUCH smaller containers than mine. As I said, they have wimpy roots and don't seem the worse for wear being crammed into dinky pots.. the big problem is keeping them from toppling as they are super top heavy at that point. There is a species of Euphorbia called decaryi, too, though it doesn't look anything like a Pachypodium. There is a Euphorbia pachypoides that does look just like a Pachypoidum, though it has no spines I have seen variegated Pachy lamereis, but I dont' have one. Rainfall does not appear to be a big problem, though this is a constant drought climate and our yearly rainfall is usually less than 20". Problem is most of it comes in just a half dozen or so rainfalls, so we get a lot at a time but then go 6-9 months without a drop. Here's the cactus mitts... hard to find, but not expensive once you do... amazing invention! This is my branching plant out front right after the big freeze Here after I did a bit of surgery Here the following spring Here a few years later in winter showing the unleafy branches I also had this wonderful crested plant (pretty commonly available out here) Here a year and half later, grown to enormous proportions... almost to the point of being so large it might collapse under its own weight... see the 'normal' branch on the right side of it? Here it is in later winter with leaves just starting to come back... this is when one can see the crest the best But freeze 4 months later took this plant down... sigh.

Thank you for the help, ladies and gents! Mike, I'm really enjoying this pokey little plant. I'm glad I've done right by the stowaway! Karen, thanks for sharing that information. Indeed, I fertilized and watered this succulent much more than my other succulents this Summer....probably every two to three weeks! Jeffrey, the first photo shows the same Aloes when I first received them. The second photo was a recent update of the pair. Would you believe it? I have three Aloe varieties ('California,' nobilis, and now these). I should make you a proper list of all the plants I grow ;-) So we're leaning towards A. maculata? Deep Roots, thank you for the pic reference. That'll make things easier! I can't wait to share the flower pics...when they come ;-) Josh

I had few plants in pot and I left side by side..all the colors planted initially was different colors but when plant grew big side by side and plants started flowering it was all same color...why was that and what can be done next?