Comments on Eric Nakamura: Cactus help!

the first one's called "sting of bananas". i have ...

2007-04-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

the first one's called "sting of bananas". i have it next to my kitchen window as well. : )
i started collecting many of Cacti and succulents lately. xo

Most of what you have are straight succulents.You ...

2007-04-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Most of what you have are straight succulents.
You do have a few cactus in the mix. Here is some advice I found that might help.
The difference between cactus and succulent is complex; all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Cacti always have spines and exposed ovaries on the flower. Succulents have tuberous roots, trunks or leaves for water storage.

Cacti and succulents generally need very bright light, but when choosing cacti and succulents to grow indoors, look for plants that need less intensity of light.

Another thing is that you can put a dish with a li...

2007-04-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

Another thing is that you can put a dish with a little bit of water under them so they can self feed when needed. Being directly on the sill, for some of them with the drainage on the bottom is suffocating them. Nice point, N, on the stones and aeration.

If there is burn on a leaf, cut it off and remove the plant to a spot with more indirect light. The sun has grown strong lately and through glass, even more so. If the leaves fall off without burn, then they are supposed to. Don't know the name of your succulent (is it a cactus?) but it is a succulent.

Some plants are happier outside, some inside,
some with direct sun and some with indirect. You're doing a good job -- play around some more and watch -- they will grow used to you. In the book, The Secret Life of Plants, it is said your plant can sense when you are approaching home, from miles away.

Hi Noella, thanks much for writing!! (yes two !!),...

2007-04-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hi Noella, thanks much for writing!! (yes two !!), however, I think the "wilted" one grows down... and is that even a cacti? I water the wilted one as much as the others... but the spray bottle idea sounds good, rocks, sound good too. I like the idea of having them outside, but then, I guess I'd never get to appreciate them. I hope others write too. Thanks much.

Eric, You're Cacti will do better with a once a we...

2007-04-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Eric, You're Cacti will do better with a once a week spritzing with a spray bottle.(spray the soil not the leaves) The really wilted one looks to be suffering from over watering. You also might want to add some pebbles on top of the soil as to keep the moisture in a little better. Hope that helps. Also cacti do better outside rather then in a window. =o)
Noella