T-rex Plants Blog

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

Growing Sulcorebutia arenacea

An uncommon genus is the Rebutia or Sulcorebutia genus, which can form small clusters of plants (sometimes just a single main 'head'), often with small, dense spines. They tend to stay small, developing large clusters over time, and while cute aren't always very...

How to Grow Astrophytum myriostigma

These little cacti are favorites for almost all collectors; I can't think of any growers I know who don't have at least one in their collection (or had one at some point, anyway). The lack of spines, the alien-like appearance, and something about how sculptural they...

The Giant Chalk Dudleya – Dudleya brittonii

When you see one of these growing well in someone's garden, positioned beautifully with a giant chalky white rosette in contrast against some sprays of brilliantly colored sedum or sedeveria, it's hard not to fall in love with them. And by hard, I mean impossible....
Growing Anthurium pendens From Seed

Growing Anthurium pendens From Seed

This anthurium is a species I didn't really set out to acquire, but instead, was gifted a berry from a friend of mine to try growing for myself. Since I was already successfully growing Anthurium magnificum from seed, why not give these a go?  To my delight, the same...

Sulcorebutia arenacea – Beautiful Bloomers

Sulcorebutia arenacea – Beautiful Bloomers

These cacti are attractive, dense little plants that produce large displays of vivid, orange-yellow blooms throughout spring and early summer. I picked one up in late 2021, and have been enamored with the attractive, dense growth since. Distribution  These are native...

Growing the stapeliad Huernia pendurata

Growing the stapeliad Huernia pendurata

This funky looking plant is an easy to grow, fairly hardy stapeliad that produces unique flowers consistently through its blooming season. I've had mine just under a year, and absolutely adore it. Origins This is a nursery hybrid between H. hystrix and H. pendula, and...

Care Diary: Astrophytum capricorne

Care Diary: Astrophytum capricorne

Many people love the Astrophytum myriostigma and its lack of spines (and many cultivars), but there's a different cactus in the Astrophytum genus that holds my heart: Astrophytum capricorne. There are, as with the myriostigma, many cultivars and clones of this...

Care Diary: How to Grow Astrophytum asterias

Care Diary: How to Grow Astrophytum asterias

These small little cacti are extremely popular for how small they stay and their complete lack of spines. They grow in a single, small globe shape, with their growing and blooming season in summer. Grown well, they are rarely more than 3” tall, and can get as wide...

Care Diary: Glandulicactus uncinatus

Care Diary: Glandulicactus uncinatus

This little cactus has the dubious distinction of having a ridiculous number of genera ascribed to it. I recently entered mine in our winter cactus club show & sale, since as a winter bloomer, it's a fantastic little cactus to show.  Deciding on the category took...

Care Diary: Gymnocalycium andreae

Care Diary: Gymnocalycium andreae

I am, of course, obsessed with the Gymnocalycium genus. As a part of that, I have a habit of picking up pairs of species I haven't seen before any time I spot them.  Gymnocalycium andreae is no exception. I spotted these as small plants at Grigsby's cactus gardens,...

Care Diary: Stenocereus beneckei

Care Diary: Stenocereus beneckei

The Stenocereus beneckei is one of those cacti that when you see one grown in greenhouse conditions, or sheltered from natural rainfall, it absolutely takes your breath away. The ghostly pale body and stark contrast of the spines draws the eye no matter who you are. ...