Are you looking for a way to bring some spiky good looks to your home gardening? Then cacti and succulents are the way to do it! These desert dwellers have become increasingly popular in recent years, making them an excellent choice for adding unusual beauty and texture to any space. Whether you’re new to growing these prickly pals or just want take your habitat garden up a notch, we’ve gathered all the tips and tricks you need to know for raising healthy cactus and succulents. Use our guides down below to get started!
Pachyverias are intergeneric succulent plants with chunky or faceted leaves with a blueish-green hue. These low-maintenance plants are a cross between echeverias and pachyphytums and are ideal for growing as houseplants or as an addition to your outdoor succulent garden. Learn how to grow pachyverias in this guide.
Aloe is a genus of flowering succulents, suitable for outdoor cultivation in Zones 9 to 11, and popular as easy-care houseplants. The plants feature basal rosettes of fleshy, pointed leaves and long flower stalks bearing tubular blossoms. If you want to try your hand at propagating aloes from seed, this guide can help.
English stonecrop is a pretty creeping sedum that features colorful foliage, starry flowers in pink to white, and grow into attractive spreading mats. These highly drought-tolerant plants make an excellent choice for ground covers, rockeries, or in any low water setting. Learn how to grow English stonecrop in this guide.
If you’re looking for a succulent plant that’s easy to care for, takes up little room, and has a funky appearance, zebra haworthia is sure to please. With striking white stripes on dark green foliage this small plant is eye-catching but undemanding. Learn more about growing and caring for zebra haworthia in this guide.
Succulents are an outstanding choice for water-wise gardens. These tough, versatile plants typically thrive in arid conditions and lean soils, and require little care or attention from the gardener. But they’ll do even better with some careful feeding. Learn about how and when to fertilize succulents in this guide.
Aloe plants reproduce by sending out clones called pups. But sometimes an aloe fails to create these new offsets and there are a number of reasons why this might happen. Usually it’s because the plant is stressed in some way. Learn seven common reasons why aloe fails to produce pups and what to do in this guide. Read more.
One of the fun aspects of growing succulents is how easily they reproduce, and growing new plants from offsets or pups may be the easiest propagation technique of all. However, there are a few important steps you need to follow to ensure you are successful. Learn to propagate succulents from offsets in this guide.
Red succulents come in a variety of hues, from bright crimson to deep burgundy. These plants are a visual treat whether you’re looking for a houseplant for a windowsill, or a drought-tolerant landscaping plant for the yard. Learn about 21 of the most beautiful red succulents in this guide. Read more now.
With trailing stems or compact rosettes, succulents come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them are a cooling blue hue. This feature protects these xeric plants, which is why there are so many fabulous blue options available. Discover 29 of the best blue succulents and choose your favorites in this guide. Read more.
If you find succulents fascinating, you might want to try propagating them from seed. However, this gardening project does require a fairly long term commitment, so it’s best to understand the entire process before you get started. Learn how to propagate succulents from seed in 9 steps in this guide. Read more now.
Prickly pear cacti are species in the Opuntia genus, perfect for dry, sunny, water-wise gardens and xeriscaping. Whether you want to grow them for their edible pads and fruit or as spiny ornamentals, there are a number of different types to choose from. Discover 19 of the best opuntia varieties in this guide. Read more.
Part of keeping your succulent plants happy and healthy isn’t just the amount of water that you provide, but what type. Municipal water can cause mineral build-up that can ultimately harm or kill your plant. Learn what water to use to raise your succulents to keep them looking and feeling their best. Read more now.
Growing succulents in the soggy Pacific Northwest takes skill. One essential piece of knowledge is understanding what time of year to put these plants into the ground or your outdoor containers. Learn the best time to plant succulents in the northwest, along with a few other growing tips in this guide. Read more now.
Highly ornamental with bright, colorful flowers over the winter holiday season, Christmas cacti are easily cultivated. But conditions like humidity, lighting, moisture, and temperature all play important roles in producing the best floral display. Learn how to prevent Christmas cactus bud drop and enjoy gorgeous blooms.
Are the leaves dropping off of your Christmas cactus? There are several reasons why the cladodes may fall from your plant, from watering issues to pest problems. This guide covers seven common causes of leaf drop in holiday cacti and helps you figure out what’s wrong with your plant and how to fix it. Read more now.
It’s confusing trying to figure out the difference between a Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving cactus. Sometimes even reputable retailers mislabel these plants because they look so similar. Learn about the different types of holiday cacti most commonly find in stores and how to tell them apart in this guide. Read more.
Christmas and Thanksgiving cactuses are short-day wonders adding bright, fiery flowers to our indoor decor over the dark winter months. Easily cultivated and low maintenance, a regular fertilizing schedule helps them to stay healthy and looking their best. Learn when and how to feed a Christmas cactus in this guide.
With fascinating blooms, starfish flower is one of the stars of the plant world. These succulents have a simple care routine, are fast growers, and aren’t stingy with their blooms. However, with the nickname “carrion flower,” they may not be for everyone. Learn to grow and care for starfish flower in this guide. Read more.
Lithops are fascinating little succulents that need lots of bright light and little water. These mimicry plants grow in an array of colorations and patterns that may seem difficult to tell apart at first glance. Explore the wonderful world of lithops, keep reading now to learn about 37 different types of living stones.
Evergreens that grow in large rosettes, yuccas thrive in hot, arid conditions and add fantastic structure, plus striking flowers, to xeriscapes, water-wise gardens, and more. Unique specimens, they’re a natural in containers, gravel gardens, and mixed beds or massed into hedges. Read on for landscaping tips for yuccas.
Do you want to grow yucca in a pot? There are a number of advantages to growing yuccas in pots, such as greater accessibility, more placement options, and a wider variety of style choices. If you want to grow your yucca plants in containers with ease, this guide provides all the essential know-how. Read more now.
Can you grow yucca plants for food? In this article, we’ll discuss topics such as yucca vs. yuca, edible parts, harvesting times, preparations, common yucca species, nutrition, and the ultimate question: should you cultivate yucca for edible use? Gain valuable insights to make informed choices on your culinary journey.
An unusual indoor/outdoor succulent that’s the lone species in its genus, lace aloe forms white-flecked rosettes with lacy, soft bristles. Grow it as an evergreen in Zones 7-10, especially where water is scarce. Or, pot it up for dish gardens indoors. Its flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and pollinators.
Are you noticing your aloe becoming too big for its current pot or space? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Discover the three simple steps to transplant or repot your aloe. Not only is it enjoyable, but you’ll also be providing aloe with a new home that will support its longevity.
Cacti are resilient desert survivors, but even they’re at risk of infestation and pest damage. Our guide walks you through a handful of significant threats, how to prevent them, and how to handle them if they’re already present. Arm yourself with this know-how, and your cacti will be much better off. Read more now.
Attractive, colorful, and unique plants, cacti are fabulous in pots and containers, and require little care or maintenance. But these desert-dwellers do need special soil to really thrive – a potting mix with a sandy, porous texture that’s well-draining. Learn how to make your own cactus potting soil in this guide.
To ensure the longevity of your aloe plants, it’s essential to divide them as soon as they begin to encroach upon each other and the space they are growing in. Read our guide to find straightforward steps on how to complete this process successfully, and you’ll also have extra plants to share with friends and family!
Yuccas are beautiful flowering succulents for the home and garden. Low maintenance perennials with excellent drought tolerance, they’re forgiving of neglect. A star in any waterwise garden, they’re easy to reproduce as well. To thin out clumps or start new plants, here’s how to separate and repot yucca offshoots.
Happy inhabitants of the driest of soils, the resilient yucca tolerates drought, frost, and searing heat. With spiky foliage in shades of green, gray, and blue, yucca sports spikes of creamy flowers come summer. Learn about the most beautiful, floriferous, and toughest types of this native succulent for your garden.
Interested in learning how to harvest healing aloe vera leaves? You’ve come to the right place. Our guide provides helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of your aloe plant. Whether you’re looking to use the gel for skincare or to make aloe vera infused smoothies, we’ll provide you with simple instructions.
Euphorbias are adaptable, versatile, and tolerant of conditions other plants fail in. Their acid-green foliage and colorful flowers create an attention-grabbing focal point with little need for maintenance to stay beautiful. Plus, very few pests and diseases trouble them, and deer avoid them altogether. Read more now.
‘Autumn Joy’ sedum is a fall favorite, known for its unique, plump foliage and bursts of pink color in the garden. This article explains everything about its history, how to propagate, grow, and care for it, as well as its uses in the landscape and beyond. Discover more about this hardy plant today!
Waterwise yuccas grow as low-profile shrubs or tall trees outdoors and as houseplants indoors. They are unique for their sword-like leaves and stalks that bear clusters of cream to pink flowers. With selective pruning, you can keep your plants healthy and attractive. Read on to learn when and how to prune yucca plants.
Echeveria plants are unique desert natives that thrive in dry, lean conditions. The plump-leaved rosettes come in many colors from icy blue to burnished plum and feature tall spikes of colorful, bell-shaped flowers. The perfect option for waterwise gardens and xeriscapes, here’s how to grow succulent echeveria plants.
Native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, organ pipe cactus can grow to be truly enormous. Strikingly architectural, it’s beautiful in all seasons, producing huge white flowers in spring and sweet fruits in summer. Given lean soil, minimal water, and lots of sunlight, you can grow this long-lived cactus too.
Growing queen of the night from cuttings is an easy horticultural project, one that can allow indoor gardeners to cultivate a vast collection of orchid cacti. But this project is most successful when you use a few unexpected tricks. Learn more about propagating Epiphyllum oxypetalum from cuttings now. Read more.
Succulents are drought-resistant plants unique for their ability to store water in plump leaves and roots for survival in arid climates. Sometimes, excess moisture causes the leaves to discolor, soften, and rot. Read on to learn why this may happen, what to do about it, and steps to take to avoid rotting in the future.
Succulents are water-wise plants with plump leaves, fanciful shapes, and varied hues. Instead of having a collection of pots, you can use a large, shallow vessel to group your plants together in a whimsical fairy garden. Read on for idea-packed tips to create clever designs that are fun to look at and easy to care for.
Want to become a succulent gardening pro? We share our top tips for planting, watering, fertilizer needs, dealing with winter weather or warm spells, pests and diseases, and more. Whether you’re planting outdoors in Zone 11 or growing a few potted plants in a sunny windowsill, read our guide now on Gardener’s Path.
Agaves range in size, shape, and color, from stunning emerald and white to blue-green, and they’re sure to catch the eye. They can hold their own as a focal feature, a gorgeous addition to a succulent garden, or mixed with other drought tolerant plants. Learn how to grow and care for agaves in this guide. Read more now.
Have you ever wanted to grow your own aloe vera? This versatile succulent is easy to grow on a sunny windowsill in your home. With your own aloe vera plant you’ll always have first aid on hand for minor burns and bug bites. Learn everything you need to know to grow and care for aloe vera indoors in this guide.
Yuccas are handsome succulents with long, spiky leaves and fantastic, tall stalks of creamy white, bell-like flowers… That is, when they show up. Flowering is often absent or unpredictable with these hardy perennials, but a little care and attention can reliably bring on the blooms. Discover our easy fixes now.
Small aloe plants make gorgeous, low-maintenance houseplants, while larger species are popular in water-wise gardens. Did you know that there are hundreds of species, some ideal for cultivating indoors and others suitable for landscapes? Learn about the different types of aloe, and discover which will best suit your needs.
Easy to propagate and low-maintenance, mother of millions produces baby plantlets on its leaf tips. Also known as the chandelier plant, it’s a favorite for beginners and indoor gardeners on a budget. Learn how to grow and care for these unique succulents both indoors as a houseplant or out in the landscape. Read more now.
String of hearts, also known as rosary vine, is a fabulous vining houseplant that needs no improvement. There are nonetheless several fascinating cultivars with different leaf shapes and colors that fans of this succulent will undoubtedly find beguiling. Discover 9 different types of string of hearts in this guide.
Need a pollinator-friendly desert plant that thrives with little to no water, making it ideal for xeriscaping? Learn how to grow ocotillo! Give this unique water-wise shrub a spot with full sun and watch the hummingbirds enjoy the dazzling flowers’ nectar. These are slow growers but they’ll last for generations!
Popular houseplants, Christmas cactuses and other holiday varieties of Schlumbergera brighten our homes with beautiful flowers. These tropical beauties can also be grown outdoors – but their range is limited and they need mild winters to survive. Read our guide now to learn how to grow Christmas cactus outdoors.
The Crassula genus includes the classic green jade plants as well as a diverse range of other succulent species and cultivars. The leaves may be fingerlike or shaped like coins, variegated, silver, or pink. With fun names like ripple jade and worm plant, our roundup showcases 13 top Crassula picks to grow at home.
Attractive, colorful, and unique plants, cacti and succulents are fabulous in containers, and require little care or maintenance. But these shallow-rooted, fleshy plants do need special soil to really thrive – one that’s fast-draining with a sandy, porous texture. Find the best DIY succulent potting soil recipe here.
Whether you’ve noticed new developments on an aloe plant or you’re interested in knowing more before you buy one, you may be asking – do aloe plants bloom? Learn all about the flowering process of these plants, how to nurture aloe to encourage blooming, and how to care for plants during and after flowering. Read more.
Compact, colorful anacampseros succulents grow as perennials in Zones 9-11, and they are easy-care container plants to overwinter indoors in colder growing areas. They grow just six inches maximum and spread to create ground cover or as filler in succulent container gardens. Learn to care for anacampseros in our guide.
You don’t have to toss florist’s kalanchoe after it’s done blooming. Our guide provides step-by-step instructions for forcing new blooms from the flaming Katy ornamental succulents. If you have a place to keep this houseplant in the dark and a little patience, it will reward you with another show of beautiful flowers.
Christmas cactus produces cheery blooms during the winter months and it’s easy to propagate cuttings. Whether your goal is to produce new plants to give as gifts or to expand your collection with new cultivars, this propagation method will come in handy. Read more to learn how to propagate Christmas cactus cuttings.
Learn how to grow and cultivate Yucca brevifolia, the iconic Joshua tree. These stunning slow-growing desert dwellers thrive with little to no water. Give them fast-draining sandy soil, full sun exposure, and ample room to spread, and they’ll be happy! You’ll have a beautiful and resilient landscape for generations.
Flaming Katy is a blooming succulent you can grow indoors, or outside in Zones 10 to 12. Learn how to propagate and care for florist’s kalanchoe in our guide, whether you’re growing it as a houseplant or as an outdoor perennial in warm regions. The flowers are cheery and plants are easy to start from cuttings to share.
With extra-long vines and heart-shaped leaves, string of hearts makes a beautiful and fast-growing houseplant. Covered with purple and dark green foliage, this succulent, also known as rosary vine, is easy and fun to propagate. Read more now to learn more about growing and caring for this Rapunzel among houseplants.
Nowadays, we’re all concerned about natural resources and the environment – and rightly so! But there are steps that we can take to reduce our environmental impact, like landscaping with plant species that need less water to thrive. Learn how to plan a xerophytic garden and choose the best plants for your needs.
Prickly pear cacti earned their name because of the edible, tasty, pear-shaped fruits they produce. These colorful fruits are tasty, nutritious, and easy to process! If you’ve avoided trying them because of their unfriendly-seeming spines, don’t worry – we’ll cover everything you need to know for a safe harvest.
With its trailing stems and plump, bluish leaves, donkey’s tail sedum makes a striking houseplant that’s easy to care for. This cliff-dwelling succulent is the perfect choice for a raised planter or hanging basket. Plus, it is nontoxic and fun to propagate. Read more now to learn how to grow and care for donkey’s tail.
Cactus longhorn beetles are prevalent in the desert climes of North America. If you grow cacti in your landscape, read on to discover which species of cacti these insect pests favor as their hosts, when they are most active, the damage they are capable of inflicting, and how to manage an infestation.
Christmas cactus is a low-maintenance flowering houseplant that thrives in bright, indirect sunlight with low to moderate moisture. Knowing when it is time to water and how much is needed is often challenging. Read on to discover ways to avoid overwatering and get instructions on how to rescue a soggy Christmas cactus.
Dragon fruit are a tasty tropical treat – and with the right techniques and know-how, you can grow your own crop of them at home. These colorful fruits are borne on the succulent stems of jungle cacti, which can produce a bountiful harvest in just a year and a half. Learn how to grow your own pitayas in this guide.
Succulents are a very popular category of plants, featuring a variety of shapes and colors, and seeming to thrive on neglect. Mites like them too, and if you let them, they’ll suck on your collection with gusto. Learn everything you need to know about succulent mites and how to deal with them in this guide. Read more now.
All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti have sharp, prominent spines that inhibit moisture loss and provide shade and protection for the fleshy stems. Many species also have clusters of smaller spines called glochids. Learn about these small yet troublesome ones so you’re not caught unawares.
Tiger aloe is a compact succulent that offers enormous appeal. Learn how to bring it home as a houseplant where it’ll thrive on neglect while still offering beautiful color and an interesting pattern. Or, make it part of a xeriscape where it can spread and fill in a bed or planter. We’ve got the details that you need.
Key lime pie plants are unique succulents with gorgeous foliage and ornamental flexibility. Whether grown as a houseplant or outdoors, this specimen will truly stand out wherever you choose to put it! In our growing guide, we’ll cover propagation methods, cultivation tips, and plant health care techniques. Read more.
Though they may be just a tad fierce-looking with their large spines and strange shape, prickly pear cacti are not only edible, they’re delicious! It’s a little tricky to harvest nopales without being poked, but we’re going to discuss just how to do this so you can painlessly enjoy this treat at home for years to come.
With emerald-green, succulent leaves, elephant bush is an easy-care houseplant that can stand up to neglect. Also known as spekboom or dwarf jade, this plant has low water needs, plus it’s nontoxic and fun to propagate. Ready to learn more? Read our guide now to learn how to grow and care for elephant bush indoors.
Get serious about succulents and learn the difference between agave and aloe. Don’t let their resemblance fool you anymore! After reading about them individually and discovering their notable differences, it’s simple to tell these stunning drought-tolerant plants apart – and they make a fantastic pair in the garden.
Can you expect your hens and chicks to bloom? Our guide explains how aging or stress causes succulent Sempervivum plants to form dainty flowers that are usually pink. After blooming just once, the plant dies. We also share tips for recognizing developing buds and keeping offsets alive once the parent plant passes on.
Sporting sharp spines, and coming in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, cacti are also easy to propagate. There are a variety of ways you can do this, whether via cuttings, offsets, seeds, or division. To learn everything you need to know to propagate these pointy plants, visit Gardeners Path for all the details.
Whether you live in an arid region or a temperate climate, there is a prickly pear species suitable for your landscaping needs. Many Opuntias also come with the added bonus of edible pads and fruits. It’s super easy to get started and caretaking is a breeze. Learn how to grow prickly pear cactus in this guide. Read more.
Succulents are funky and fun to grow, especially in the trendy and functional containers we’ve gathered for you. Read on to discover 7 of our favorite pots and planters, plus key growing tips and a foolproof design scheme. Learn how to show off your water-wise plant collection now, right here on Gardener’s Path.
For inexpensive succulent houseplants that grow quickly and are easy to care for, learn to root aloe vera cuttings from single leaves or divide pups from parent plants. The gel from the leaves soothes burns, and the starts you propagate make great gifts for indoor gardeners. Learn how to propagate aloe in this guide.
Aloe vera is an easy-to-grow succulent plant that thrives outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. It makes an ideal addition to a xeriscape, foundation planting, or window box. If you’re ready to add spiky interest to your garden, learn how to plant and grow aloe out in the garden in this guide. Read more now.
Tropical Christmas cactus is a relatively easy houseplant to grow. Native to the rainforests of South America, it thrives with indirect sunlight in organically-rich, well-draining potting medium. The fleshy stems are green and segmented, but sometimes they turn brown and become woody. Read on to learn what this means.
Tropical Christmas cactus is a rainforest epiphyte with beautiful blooms that has become a popular houseplant. It thrives in indirect sunlight, and organically-rich, well-draining potting medium. It has green segmented stems that sometimes turn yellow. Read on to find out why this happens and what you can do about it.
Christmas cactus is a popular gift at holiday time that makes an attractive and long-lived houseplant. By manipulating its growing conditions, you can enjoy an abundance of blooms every year. Generally low-maintenance, sometimes a plant is troubled by pests. Read on to learn which ones they are and how to manage them.
In certain circumstances, cats and houseplants can be a lethal combination. But what about Christmas cactus? This popular, easy-care houseplant provides a cascade of color in the holiday season, but is it safe for households with pets? Learn about whether Christmas cactus is safe for cats in this guide. Read more now.
Christmas cactus is a relatively trouble-free, easy-care houseplant that puts on a show of abundant tropical blooms during the holiday season. Sometimes you may notice that the segmented stems are no longer green, but purplish-red. Read on to discover what may cause this to happen, and what you can do to prevent it.
If you’re an indoor gardener, there’s a good chance that you have a Christmas cactus that bursts into a profusion of blooms every year. In caring for it, have you ever noticed hair-like growths sprouting from between the stem segments? These are aerial roots. Read on to learn what they can tell us about plant health.
Snake plants are a guaranteed winner for anybody, anywhere. Practically impossible to kill, sansevieria is a great addition to any home. Read about these hardy plants perfect for whatever shade of your green your thumb is here in our snake plant growing guide.
Succulent plants are not just for desert landscapes. Cluster them in bright containers to energize a patio, or among river rock for a serene garden bed. Set pots around the house for eye-catching color, shape, and texture. Easy and fun, they add style to any decor. Meet eleven beauties, here on Gardener’s Path.