Garden Diary: Cacti and Succulents

Over the last few months  I have been meaning to undertake some general maintenance aka TLC to my expanding collection of succulents and cacti. Many have either outgrown their pots, are infested with woolly aphids and mealybugs, or have dead leaves and debris which is rotting between their fleshy leaves or at the base of the plant.

1. Echeveria – blue curls

I repotted this plant as the old soil had set like concrete in the pot and the roots were chocked was struggling. It was also infested with wooly aphids and an abundance of dead leaves. Once removed its babies are now visible. It’s a much happier plant!

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2. Crested Eve’s Needle Cactus

Sadly it is time to say goodbye. In October 2018 I spent hours trying to remove the scale from my crested Eves needle and revive the plant but it was not to be and I have had to concede defeat. As a gardening buddy told me life’s too short when you get to our age.

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As luck would have it the sickly crested eve’s needle had produced two babies which I removed and carefully removed any scale insects that were beginning to take up residence. Hopefully, I will manage to save these.

 

Having let the cut wounds dry for a couple of days, fingers crossed one of them takes. For now, I’ve put on the top shelf of my succulent and succulent display unit and they can decide if they want to live

3. Albuca bracteata – Pregnant Onion Plant

I have had this pregnant onion plant for a few years and as the baby plants started to develop it was long overdue rehoming to a larger pot.

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4. Cacti Display

I bought these cacti a couple of years ago with the intention of creating a cacti garden. The garden never materialized so I finally created a small cacti display. I would normally either plant displays in odd numbers, 3, 5 or 7 but as I only had four spare plants an even number will need to suffice. The addition of sandstone rocks is not just aesthetic they are to prevent Mr. Blackbird destroying the display in his quest for insects.

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5. Echeveria mandala

I love this plant but I need to take care as it is susceptible to mealybugs. I also need to regularly remove debris that collects in the leaves. Failure to remove will result in the leaves rotting. The plant is rather top-heavy and it needs a heavier pot to stop it toppling over.

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6. Walking Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe synsepala)

I love this plant. A gardening friend bought it for my 65th birthday back in December. This is the first time I have repotted but looking at this picture ti already looks too big for the pot.

These are its babies.

Eventually, I’d love to create a bed just with these plants. We will see.

 

That’s my six for this Saturday. Check out Mr. P’s blog for other six on Saturday gardens