T-rex Plants Blog
Published weekly. Ish. You can also follow along on Instagram at @trexplants
Care Diary: Aloe suprafoliata, or the Book Aloe
The Book Aloe is an uncommon species that is extremely striking as a juvenile, but seldom recognized in its adult form. I discovered the species during the COVID lockdowns in 2020, and picked up a handful to grow up and eventually use as landscape aloes (and also to...
Growing Blue Brazilian Beauties: Pilosocereus pachycladus
Originally published in the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Newsletter for October, 2021. We always remember our first love – and for me, that’s the blue Pilosocereus pachycladus.You may have seen them listed as Pilosocerus azureus, but as far as I’m aware,...
The Best Tools and Gifts to Give a Gardener
One of the best things about being part of the plant community is that there's always something to learn and share with others who grow. Every grower has their own tricks and knowledge gleaned from their collection, and sharing that knowledge helps elevate us all! On...
Care Diary: Neochilenia jussieui AKA Neoporteria jussieui or Eriosyce curvispina
This little species of cactus is a cute, purple little thing that I have seen listed under a variety of scientific names. While the name Neochilenia jussieui is what I purchased my plants under and will typically list them as on my Etsy, but they may appear as: ...
Care Diary: Aloe erinacea
This aloe is a show stopper in nearly every collection, particularly as they gain some size. They are slow growing, which contributes to some of what makes them so coveted: a large specimen is often 30+ years old, usually older. I picked mine up in 2019, and they...
Care Diary: How to Grow Discocactus chrystillophilum
I have held off on blogging about the care of this particular species of cactus as I've read and heard that they can be finicky, difficult, and tend to be quite sensitive. I've had my Discocactus chrystallophilus for almost a year now, and they're relatively small,...
TrexPlants on the If Plants Could Talk podcast
Earlier this month, I was fortunate enough to be on the podcast If Plants Could Talk! I brought in a handful of my larger tropical plants, and we spent over an hour discussing plants, reptiles, shipping, and what it's like slinging plants on the side. At the end, I...
Care Diary: Agave celsii var multicolor
When it comes to excellent landscape Agaves, the Agave "celsii multicolor" is a popular choice. They reach a moderate, manageable size and are extremely attractive in the garden. They're also somewhat uncommon, and typically found as small seedlings in 4" pots if...
Care Diary: Aloe aculeata
I admittedly have an obsession with the aloes I've seen at the Safari Park that look like, as my brain likes to call them, "Dinosaur Skin". The ones at the Safari Park are huge, but the texture seems to occur in a handful of species. I'll be talking about one of my...
Identifying and Treating Mealy Bugs
Mealy bugs. Are. The. Absolute. Worst. Maybe second to spider mites, but not by much. If you only grow outdoor plants, you probably have a burning hatred for these just as much as indoor plant growers hate spider mites. Fortunately, they're much easier to deal with...