T-rex Plants Blog
Published weekly. Ish. You can also follow along on Instagram at @trexplants
How to Grow Lithops lesliei
I've been growing many of my lithops for several years now, and I'm far overdue for some detailed posts about the specific species in my collection! I'll start off with the popular and enormously easy to grow Lithops lesliei - a distinctive species with an enormous...
How to Spot and Treat Aloe Mite (It’s Not Easy)
Ahhh, aloe mites. The bane of most aloe growers' existence. If you've been diligently collecting your aloes for years, growing several in the ground for those giant trees, the last thing you want to see is one of those little cancerous looking lumps. While they won't...
How to Overwinter Your Cacti
It's that time of year - at least, for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere - when the weather gets colder, days get shorter, and it's time to figure out what to do with your beloved cacti if you can't keep them outside. I'll preface this blog post with a bit of the...
How to Grow Copiapoa haseltoniana – the Powdery White Copiapoa
This species is one of the most coveted Copiapoa species, especially among collectors that value the rare, the uncommon, or the particularly hard to grow. Part of their desirability comes from just how long they take to reach an appreciable size: a large, impressive...
Cheiridopsis denticulata – Lobster Claws succulent
I was reviewing my care diary posts and growing guides recently, and was surprised to realize I've never written about my growing Cheiridopsis collection. I've hinted at it, sure, but I've actually had at least a handful of this genus for nearly 5 years! They're more...
Is Your Conophytum Dead, Or Is It Supposed To Look Like That?
The tiny little, long-lived Conophytums are some of the most coveted plants in the world - and also some of the hardest to keep alive. More so than Lithops or nearly any other succulent, Conophytum are particularly unforgiving of overwatering, inadequate light, or...
Plant Poaching and Our Part In It – Takeaways from Kal Kaminer’s SDCSS Talk
Fair warning for anyone who's a regular reader: This isn't an image-heavy post, and is a long read. I'm finally home from our monthly cactus club meeting, and I'm fired up - this month's talk was a fantastic lecture from Kal Kaminer, proprietor of LA Succulents, a...
Monstera deliciosa Thai Constellation: You Finally Bought One, Now What?
In recent weeks (months?), plant enthusiasts all over the US have been excitedly discovering that Walmart, Trader Joe's, Home Depot, and other large stores suddenly have the highly coveted Monstera deliciosa "Thai Constellation" available. What's more, the plants are...
Tis the Season – For Lithops!
Ah, fall. That lovely time of year here in San Diego, when we go from full summer to sort of summer. Nights get marginally cooler. Days are less likely to reach triple digits. If there’s any leaves changing color, it’s the slowly crisping bushes and trees clinging to...
How to Grow Obregonia denigrii – the Artichoke Cactus
You ever decide to get a cactus on a whim, just because it was there, you were first, and there was only one? That's how I ended up with my Obregonia denigrii. It was peak COVID season, the plant bubble was looming large, and like everyone else, I was stuck at home...