You are looking at a packet of tiny black cactus seeds on your windowsill, wondering how something so small turns into a spiny little globe. Learning how to grow a cactus from seed is easier than it looks, and it mostly comes down to warmth, moisture, and light at the right time. The short version: … Read more >>
A tall green column studded with pointed, leaf-like spikes sits in your window, and you want to keep it looking that sturdy. Learning how to grow and care for Eve’s needle cactus indoors mostly comes down to bright light, gritty soil, and careful watering. The short version: Give Eve’s needle cactus the sunniest window you … Read more >>
Your bunny ear cactus sits on the windowsill with a crowd of fuzzy pads, and a few of them look ready to become plants of their own. Learning how to propagate bunny ear cactus is mostly about patience, because the pads root easily once you let the cut end dry. The short version: Twist off … Read more >>
You are looking at a healthy green Christmas cactus on the windowsill, full of arching segments and not a single flower bud in sight. The plant seems content, but it is clearly not getting the signal to bloom. The short version: A Christmas cactus sets buds when it gets long, uninterrupted nights and cool temperatures … Read more >>
You glance at your Christmas cactus on the windowsill and notice the flat, green segments have picked up a purple or reddish-purple cast, often darkest along the edges. If you are asking why is my Christmas cactus turning purple, the color is almost always a stress response, not a disease. The short version: Purple segments … Read more >>
You walk past the windowsill and notice your Christmas cactus hanging limp over the rim of its pot, its flat green segments soft and drooping instead of arching outward. The short version: Most wilting comes from a watering problem. Wet soil and mushy segments point to root rot, while dry soil and thin, wrinkled segments … Read more >>
A cactus on your windowsill that once stood firm now has a soft, dark patch near the soil line, or it leans and gives slightly when you press it. If you are asking why is my cactus rotting, the answer almost always starts with water and drainage, but cold, low light, and wounds play a … Read more >>
You find a few flat green segments scattered on the windowsill or the floor below your Christmas cactus, and the plant looks thinner than it did last week. If you are asking why is my Christmas cactus dropping leaves, the answer is usually in the pot, the window, or the air around it. The short … Read more >>
Your cactus sits on the windowsill looking paler than it used to, with a washed-out, yellowish or minty tone where the deep green once was. If you are asking why is my cactus turning light green, the answer usually shows up in the plant’s shape, the feel of its base and the side of the … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus sits by the window with plump green segments and plenty of new growth, but there is not a single bud in sight as the holidays approach. If you are asking why is my christmas cactus not blooming, the answer almost always comes down to a few fixable conditions in your home. The … Read more >>