15
votes
Accepted
What's this bifurcating succulent found in a greenhouse in the Gobi Desert?
That is called Pleiospilos nelii. It's a succulent, and a member of the same family as Lithops (Aizoaceae), but it's not a Lithop. It is a leaf window plant, like Lithops. They make a yellow-orange ...
- 3,198
11
votes
Accepted
Will succulent leaves grow back?
Whether it lives or dies, there is no way it will grow back into something that looks nice as a "gift" in ten days, so start looking for another present to give your friend!
Your guess that ...
- 11.3k
9
votes
What is this bug on my adenium plant and what should I do?
Agreed, its an aphid infestation, specifically what's known as Oleander Aphid, which affects plants in the Apocynaceae family (which Adenium belongs to) as well as Asclepiadaceae - more info in the ...
- 131k
9
votes
Accepted
Should I fertilize a cactus showing etiolation?
We say a plant is 'etiolated' when its growth becomes long and lanky, usually thin and weak looking, often yellowish or pale in colour, and with elongated gaps between leaves on stems, although this ...
- 131k
9
votes
Accepted
What is the name of this red flower? And how do I care for it?
It's Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. It's a succulent native to Madagascar. They are pretty undemanding houseplants, but need good light and mustn't be over-watered: allow the soil to dry fully between ...
- 2,235
9
votes
Accepted
Chuck the plant - am I ill?
First, I missed off a bit of this particular one's proper name - it's Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii; the version without yellow stripes is just Sansevieria trifasciata.
My houseplant book says ...
- 131k
9
votes
Can I cut the top off a drooping aloe plant?
The damaged leaves will not heal, and the weakened narrow portion of stem will remain that way. It can grow from the end, though, and that can be healthy. It was obviously suffering from etiolation. I ...
- 51.6k
8
votes
Accepted
What is this succulent with spined leaves with a triangular cross-section?
This plant is an aloe. It's a desert dwelling succulent. In warm weather they can handle being watered once a month, sometimes more often in HOT weather. Indoors they can often go several months ...
- 5,839
8
votes
Accepted
Why are my aloe leaves turning white and brown?
First, here is what sunburn looks like on an aloe leaf:
And here is what etiolation looks like on an aloe (this one's actually mine :o):
Mine is etiolated because it's in the basement under ...
- 51.6k
8
votes
Accepted
How can I prevent my succulent from tipping over its pot?
This is fairly normal behavior for these plants. As they grow, the stems get longer, and since the leaves are full of water, the weight of the top of the plant pulls the stem over to one side. It's ...
- 96
8
votes
Accepted
What is this huge succulent plant?
It reminds me of a Night Blooming Cereus. I've never grown one, so can't comment on their need. My folks have theirs growing in normal household conditions, getting western light. They are amazing ...
- 2,502
7
votes
Why are these succulent leaves withering instead of rooting?
In the case of the aloe (plant on the right) it's because trying to root aloe from cuttings is different from most and might involve a little luck. Most places I've read say that it just won't root ...
- 5,839
7
votes
Accepted
Identification of many succulents
I don't know of a really good dichotomous key or similar... what I would do, is to learn the basics of most commonly kept succulents, then look at pictures of those families to see if you can narrow ...
- 5,172
7
votes
Accepted
What is this houseplant with leaves that grow in a circular pattern?
Well, that's such a coincidence - this is the second question on this particular plant today. It's Sansevieria cylindrica - confirmation of ID can be achieved once the flowers are fully out. Your ...
- 131k
7
votes
Accepted
What's the fastest way to dry peat before re-potting an overwatered succulent?
Well I wouldn't worry about drying it out first - simply tip it out of its pot, preferably wearing gloves, carefully, and with any luck, most of the wet soil will fall off immediately anyway. The ...
- 131k
7
votes
How can I prevent my succulent from tipping over its pot?
The cause is usually not enough light, or the light is very directional (for example if the pot is near a window). The remedy is to turn the pot regularly (i.e. every day or two) to keep the plant ...
- 11.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Can anybody identify this smelly succulent?
It is Plectranthus tomentosa, sometimes called the Vicks plant because it smells a bit like Vick mentho rub, or of menthol/eucalyptus anyway. Some cultural info about this plant here, if you need it
...
- 131k
7
votes
Why does this Jade plant have small leaves when compared to other Jade plants?
This plant is not a Crassula! It is a Portulacaria afra, commonly called Spekboom or Elephant Bush in South Africa, which is where it originates. It is extremely drought tolerant, but can also grow ...
- 71
7
votes
Accepted
Crassula or Portulacaria and what are the little white sticks
That's a Crassula ovata: the leaves are more elongated (ovata = "egg-shaped") and larger than Portulacaria afra. Also, they are missing the indentation at the tip that makes Portulacaria afra leaves ...
- 15.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Why is my Dwarf Jade plant dropping more than dozens of leaves?
Looks like over watering. The soil itself looks wet to me. The elephant's ear, like all other Jades, can use very little water, so you can usually just stick to weekly or even two-weekly watering ...
- 3,576
7
votes
How can I promote new growth on a section of my Jade cutting?
Like many plants, Jade plant stems are comprised of 'nodes and internodes' (the nodes containing the concentrated meristem tissue):
The nodes hold one or more leaves, as well as buds which can grow ...
- 51.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Chuck the plant - what am I?
Sansevieria trifasciata laurentii is its unlovely botanical name, but it has the common names of Mother in Law's Tongue and Snake Plant too! Though you could just stick to Chuck...
It prefers bright ...
- 131k
6
votes
How to save this blue cactus?
I actually saw some of these in walmart, just the other day. They kept them with the Living Trends succulents and cacti. The blue color is just paint or dye. They had the same type of cactus painted ...
- 5,072
6
votes
What is this bug on my adenium plant and what should I do?
I agree they look like aphids - aphids come in a variety of colours, so you might not have seen this type before.
To control aphids, I just spray the plant all over with a spray bottle containing ...
- 715
6
votes
Accepted
What is this houseplant with narrow, pointed, waxy leaves?
This is a type of Aloe. There are hundreds of species. Positive identification is based on the tiny barbs at the end of the leaves and the thick waxy cuticle on the leaves. There are some pale spots ...
- 57.4k
6
votes
Accepted
How can I make this succulent less splayed-out and lanky?
I think its actually Sansevieria cylindrica, and as such, it needs higher light levels than many of the other varieties. Grown in bright daylight, it will be more erect and is less likely to collapse ...
- 131k
6
votes
Saving sun-scorched succulents
I'm sorry I don't know the cause of your damage, but I have a lot of experience with sedums, and can reassure you that a healthy plant can grow even if the top is damaged, dead, or broken off; and ...
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