T-rex Plants Blog

Published weekly. Ish. You can also follow along on Instagram at @trexplants

What’s Blooming: Springtime Greenhouse Update

It's the most wonderful time of the year: no...not Christmas, but cactus blooming season! At least, the start of it. This is a super busy time of year for anyone who tries to produce their own seed, grows things from seed, or just has a substantial collection. If...

How to Correct Lithops Growing Problems

When you're growing a plant that is a seasonal grower - one that only produces new growth once a year - it can be extremely hard to figure out how to correct weird growth that is less than "perfect". In Lithops, this is most often etiolation, but can include sun...

Is It Supposed to Look Like That or Is It Dying? How to Tell If Your Cactus Needs Water

Something I've been asked about often, via email, Instagram, and in person, is about when to water a cactus. How can you tell when your cactus is thirsty and needs water? They don't seem to do anything, so how do you know when it's the right time? If you've been...
Purple Opuntia: How to Grow Them and Tell Them Apart

Purple Opuntia: How to Grow Them and Tell Them Apart

If you're new to cactus collecting, or even if you're not, you've likely discovered the glorious purple paddle cacti. You might have seen them labeled as purple prickly pear, purple cactus, whatever it may be - but did you know there's multiple forms, and multiple...

How to Grow Frailea castanea

How to Grow Frailea castanea

These tiny little cacti are adorable and remarkably easy to grow. With few spines and a small adult size, plus how well they thrive in partial shade, these are ideal for windowsill cultivation. Because they also self-fertilize (even without their flowers opening!),...