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 >>
You are standing at the window, looking out at a prickly pear or barrel cactus that has crept across the side yard and now blocks a walkway. The short version: To remove cactus from yard beds for good, cut it down in sections with long-handled tools, dig out the main root crown, and collect every … Read more >>
Your cactus is sitting on the windowsill looking soft, shriveled, or oddly discolored, and you are not sure whether it is resting or gone. Knowing how to tell if a cactus is dead comes down to a few hands-on checks of the stem, the base, and the roots. Most of these take less than five … Read more >>
A bowl of spiny, egg-shaped fruit sits on your kitchen counter, some deep magenta, some still blushing green, and you are not sure which ones are ready to eat. Knowing how to tell if a cactus pear is ripe saves you from biting into a sour, starchy fruit or tossing one that was perfect. The … Read more >>
Your Christmas cactus is sitting on the windowsill with limp, wrinkled segments, the soil still feels damp from last week, and a few pads drop off when you brush past. Overwatered Christmas cactus care starts with figuring out how far the damage has gone, because a soggy plant and a rotting plant need different rescues. … Read more >>
You are looking at a small cactus on your windowsill, watching gray rain run down the glass, and wondering whether it could ever live outside year-round in Virginia. The short version: Yes, some cactus can grow in Virginia, and one prickly pear is even native to the state. Cold-hardy species survive outdoors in nearly every … Read more >>