T-rex Plants Blog
Published weekly. Ish. You can also follow along on Instagram at @trexplants
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 Dudleya pachyphytum
These plants are, for me, one of those 'holy grail' species I've loved for years. I haven't posted about them, or any of my dudleyas, before now because I was pretty convinced I was terrible at growing them. If I keep killing something, it seems a bit disingenuous to...
Growing Browningia hertlingiana – a Beautiful Blue Columnar Cactus
When you see one of these that's been well grown and has size to it, they're incredibly striking. I first spotted them on Instagram and immediately wanted one of my own. A tall, columnar blue cactus with chiseled tubercles for the spines? Sign me up! Browningia...
Growing Melocactus azureus – The Turk’s Cap Cactus
I've waited a long time to write about these, despite having grown them for the last 5 years and selling more than a few of them on my Etsy shop. They have a reputation for being hard to grow and finicky, something I experienced myself with the first couple I tried to...
Aloe Hybrid Update – New Additions and Growth Continued
Continuing my update on the aloes and their winter growth, we're going to look at more! This post will have more of my recent additions, all within 2023. I divided multiple plants last summer, including my "purple people eater", "raspberry ruffles", "krakatoa", "mauna...
Aloe Hybrid Update: New Additions and Growth
I haven't posted an update on my beloved aloes in some time, and the collection has morphed making an update overdue! I have divided several and offered the divisions for sale at the local cactus club; some have rebounded quite well, while others are slower to...
Growing Ariocarpus for Beginners
Ariocarpus is a wild genus. With the rise of plant popularity during COVID, these went from a relatively niche cactus, popular among experienced growers but almost unheard of otherwise, to incredibly in demand and fetching insane prices. Unlike the tropical plants...
Coryphantha Confusion: andrae, pycnacantha, or elephantidens?
This article first appeared in the SDCSS monthly newsletter, and references the local club meeting. Coryphantha! A genus you may or may not have heard of - they’re native to Mexico and even up into the Southwest US. In recent years, some species have become highly...
How to Grow Monilaria pisiformis – the Bunny Ear Succulent
These little plants have captured the hearts of just about everyone who sees them - and can you blame them? These are charming things that look like bunny rabbits, and are popular on Etsy and Ebay, most often sold as seeds. Sadly, many novice and even more experienced...
What Does It Mean When a Cactus or Succulent is Hard Grown?
As you begin to sink further and further into the addiction - sorry, the hobby - of cactus and succulent collecting, you'll encounter the phrase "hard grown". What does it mean? Why do people like (or dislike) it? Should you be doing it? Is it bad for your plants? Is...