Month: February 2013

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Cutting a columnar cactus plants

Questions:  I am trying to gather information on cutting a columnar cactus plants. I have been gifted a cactus from a friend but it is unmanageable. She grew it from a tiny cutting, the cactus plant it is now close to 7 feet tall with no off shoots. I would like to cut it down and pot the other half but I am nervous to move forward. So far on line I have read to sterilize the knife and to let the cutting dry before planting. I am nervous as to what length to cut off, what to do (if anything) to the exposed piece at the top, how specifically to cut it without damaging it, or any other information I may need. I apologize if this email is asking for too much information, I would just like to treat such a special plant with as much care as possible. Thank you, Jessica

Answer:  Yes you can cut the top off of the cactus and plant it. Beyond the standard procedures of cutting you should soak the cut portion (the part you plant to put under the ground) with super thrive once the cut is HEALED! The exposed piece at the top of the cactus (part left in the ground) you need to protect for approximately two weeks to prevent  fungus.  The cactus plant will ooze sap and it will take a long time for the cactus plant part left in the ground to heal than the cut off cactus plant portion. How much of the cactus to cut off?  I have seen anything thing from a few inches to several feet cut off.  if your cactus plant has branching I would say to cut above the branches but your cactus does not have branches. Also, depending upon where you live determines when to crop the cactus plant because you do not want the cactus plant healing in the cold weather or humid weather.

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Desert rose growing hunidity and adenium plant problems

Questions:  Thank goodness that accidentally I found a reliable website specialized on desert rose plants. Thank you for your adenium nursery.
I’m addicted to desert rose plant and I have a variety of it either grown
from seeds or purchased from different nurseries.
I live in southern California, close to ocean, and in the summer the
humidity is pretty high,so every night I bring my plants inside to prevent
the growth of powdery mildew on the leaves.
My question is: what would you recommend to use for this problem? I know
that these plants don’t like oily substance on their leaves like Neem oil
that I use on my regular roses.
Also, lately I’ve noticed on one of my plants the new grown leaves are
curled and dis-formed, which I’m guessing the mealy bugs presence, but I
don’t see them even with magnifying glass. I use rubbing alcohol on a Qtip
that I’m not sure if it’s right treatment. What insecticide should I use?
Thank you for your reply.
You have magnificent plants. I’ll be back to purchase more plants from you
guys.
Agnes

Answer:  Thank you for the question. Humidity is not the problem otherwise I would have major problems. We grow the adeniums in a tropical location – Miami Florida where the humidity is just about between 80% and 100% everyday during late spring.  If you are using the right soil and the plants are not on the ground the fog should not effect your adenium desert rose plants.

The curling of the leaves usually indicates that your plant needs nutrients. I would get super-thrive and two/three times a year use it to water your desert rose plants.  Also, get a good time releases fertilizer for your adenium plants 8-9 slow release with trace nutrients. Powdery mildew could be spider mites or a fungus. Usually if the adeniums are too close to the ground you will have more fungus problems. Try raising your adenium plants higher off the ground to keep them away from the moisture raising form the wet ground.

During the summer it rains everyday here (tropics) so the ground is always wet, full of fungus/mildew and other things that cause problems with adenium leases. About 3 years ago we raising our desert rose plant growing tables to 32″ above the ground as a trial method to help prevent fungus on the leaves. IT worked!!  The moisture form the ground evaporates and the wetness/humidity was transferring the mildew onto the bottom of he leaves causing dark spots on the desert rose plants. This is not a problem anymore!

Have a great weekend