T-rex Plants Blog

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

Caring for Copiapoas: A General Beginner’s Guide

I'll preface this right away with the caveat that I have only been growing my 'poas for the last 3 or 4 years. Compared to the venerated growers who have had some of their plants for decades, I am still a novice copiapoa grower myself. Having said that - I've only...

Summer 2023 – General Update and Garden Progress

Apologies to anyone who typically visits my blog each week, eager to see a new post about a new plant, or an update to existing specimens. The last couple months have had a lot of chaos happening for me personally, and I needed to take a step back from writing so I...

How to Grow Echinocereus reichenbachii

I originally picked these up intending purely to resell all of them, but was so enchanted by the flowers when they bloomed before I could list them that I ended up keeping two. They're attractive even without the blooms, and a small enough size that they're easy to...
Conophytum Eye Candy – More from the Steve Hammer visit

Conophytum Eye Candy – More from the Steve Hammer visit

While there were oodles of Lithops at Steve's place, what was truly special was the sheer quantity of amazing specimen Conophytum. They were all just starting to wake up for the winter growth season, and beginning to bloom.  It was interesting to talk Conos with Steve...

Care Diary: Gymnocalycium vatteri

Care Diary: Gymnocalycium vatteri

I love Gymnocalyciums, and these are one of my absolute favorites. With an appearance that looks like they were chiseled into shape, mild spines, and huge, showy flowers, there's a lot to love about these cacti! Species Description and Distribution Gymnocalycium...

Care Diary: Thelocactus hexaedrophorus

These incredibly slow-growing, turtle-shell looking cacti are one of those species in a collection that can be a clear indicator that you've encountered a real cactus nerd. They're uncommon (and slow growing) enough that you rarely, if ever, see them at your typical...

Care Diary: Epiphyllums, the Orchid Cactus

Unassuming in appearance, even vaguely ugly (depending on who you ask), the Orchid Cactus is an unusual looking plant whose true beauty lies in the huge, beautiful blooms they product through late spring and early summer. Depending on the species, they'll bloom only...

Surprising(ly Stinky) Stapeliads

Originally printed in the February edition of the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society newsletter. Easy San Diego Growers The genus Stapelia hails mainly from South Africa, as many of our favorite succulent species do. They’re generally low-growing, spineless, and...

How to Germinate Anthurium magnificum Seeds

Continuing the theme of Anthurium magnificum this month, I also recently harvested my Anthurium's berries and successfully germinated the seeds! Most of what I've read about Anthuriums has said that they're not self-fertile, but this plant made two blooms that just...

Anthurium magnificum Bloom Cycle, Continued

Anthurium magnificum Bloom Cycle, Continued

Continuing the bloom cycle of my Anthurium magnificum, right around the end of the month the plant decided it was done with the female phase of the bloom cycle and it was time for pollen. You can see the previous photos of the inflorescence emerging and entering...