I'm trying to figure out when will be the best time to move all my cactus/succulents that survived the winter in my greenhouse back outside. The 10 day forecast for us shows a couple of days in the upper 40s at night then it goes to the 60s at night. Realizing this is Texas and you can't out guess the weather and remembering some years back 4" of snow on Easter I'm not quite sure what to do. Should I wait until later in the month?

Well, I moved my folks outside a few weeks ago. I've had to move them back in due to a couple of freezes (and we have two or three projected this week), but with temps similiar to those you stated for most days these past few weeks, I can't justify leaving them in the garage.

I realize that probably doesn't help you, I don't know how big your collection is, but if it's not too much trouble, I'd move them outside and move them back in if you have to (keep an eye on the weather).

I'm not exactly sure how many I have but it's quite a bit. I guess once the 40s are over I can move them out at least so they can get some sun and there's even some rain in the forecast so that would help them. If a cold snap is forecast I can always move them back in.

Sounds like a plan!

Hi gang,

I don't know Hammy about her so much loving me as her loving my roof and the fact she can hang her butt off the edge of the nest and just poop all over my prized plants. I'm way to much of a bleeding heart animal lover to chase her away and destroy her nest despite the fact I'm not super keen on birds and their dirty, dirty nasty habits and the mess they make everywhere.

You know I just thought of something. I AM a gourmet cook! I am suddenly having visions of a velvety Bird's Nest Soup (Delicacy in China that sells for $$$ of dollars per bowl) along side a succulent roast squab in a rich plum brandy-hoisin sauce served on top of a bed of Basmati rice pilaf spiced with cumin, coriander, turmeric, cilantro, pine nuts and golden raisins......

Thijs........Yes, we probably won't see rain again for a good long time. Not sure if you got any the other day, but what I got was a fluke and as I predicted enough to re-sprout my weeds and make my knees and back ache. Back to the weed picking chore again all this coming week.

Your fire sticks look marvelous. While my middle aged, arthritic bones may not like this extra humidity the plants most certainly do and this is the season for the fire sticks to be in full growth mode. Here's mine. I was thinking of splitting this and planting part of it in a different area of the front yard.




This was a second plant I had in the back yard that never quite took off. I brought it up front last year and it has since thrived. It receives about half the sun as the one above. It is doing quite well and growing rapidly in comparison to how it had been in the back yard.


Stush........good advice on the Fire Sticks. You are correct with anything in the Euphorbia family and the evil sap those particular plants produce. Knock on wood I've been fortunate and haven't had anything but the most minor of mishaps with them.

And I couldn't agree more! The more you love something the harder it is to grow, it doesn't grow in your area or you'll just kill it. Or no matter what you do in attempts to save it; it will die to spite you! If you hate it and could care less about it; it seems to thrive on your neglect.

And no....never use regular potting soil for cacti. At least my understanding was to always use a palm/cactus/citrus mix as it is formulated to work with the cacti's needs. Soil is such a unique thing and varies depending on where you live so it is rather hard to say exactly what works for me will work for you. It is all trial and error----unfortunately. If you are getting good results with clay then keep using it. I have a very sandy soil that stays wet for a long time and my plants seem to thrive in it. Then again you also have to figure in sunshine, temperature, humidity, rain, etc. Just go with what works for you and the plant. Yours look great so you are obviously doing a great job.

Oh no! I'd be happy to have a dove nest in our backyard.

Hammy.......
Sure you wouldn't rather have a 5 star Michelin dinner instead?

I feed our doves tyvm (not to plump them up either)!).

Don't you worry. She's safe. Like I said, I have a great big bleeding heart when it comes to animals. While I find them plenty tasty and love to cook them up if I had to actually kill anything myself I wouldn't have a farm but a petting zoo and I'd be a vegetarian! So thank Goodness for grocery stores and restaurants that do the 'dirty work' for me, right? But hey...you can't blame me though for feeling a little frustration towards my uninvited (all be too cute) house guest for the mess she is making in my yard considering how hard I work and how much my middle aged knees and back ache?

Only natural my thoughts turn towards what to 'do' with/about her. As a passionate lover of the culinary arts food naturally comes to mind. But don't you worry. She'll be just fine up there pooping on my plants and driving me crazy for weeks to come. I promise you I won't do anything and if it makes you feel better I'll post pics of her every few days. OK.?

We have a resident couple... couples? that visit daily to eat. I sure enjoy watching them bob around, haha.

We do too. I don't know how long they have been here - but I see them every spring and summer.

We have pigeons trying to nest all around the house pretty much continuously. I don't know the difference between doves and pigeons (it's the same word for both in Spanish), and I wouldn't mind a dove moving in necessarily. But I don't let the pigeons move in, ever. They are really dirty birds (like rats of the sky, about the level of seagulls) and they produce a lot of waste. If the hummingbirds wanted to move in, I'd be all for it, waste included. But they seem to prefer big bushy plants for nesting, and we don't have anything like that on the patio.

Hi all

Just wanted to share the amazing blooms on my Euphorbia greenwayi I've had for about a year now.

Nice, mine never bloomed for me yet.

I'm planning on planting a succulent garden for my Mom in the next few months. So can any of you recommend a good online vendor for some unique succulents? Or do any of you sell, or trade, cuttings of succulents? We've exhausted all the local nurseries for what stock they carry, so I'm looking for things she doesn't have.

It's that time of year when I'm itching to get my plants outside of the greenhouse. Realizing it's only mid-March and I do remember some years ago when we got 4" of snow on Easter, about what's the minimum temp I should be worried about if they're outside? Realizing too that it all depends on what plant it is but what's the general guide for cactus/succulents?

I'm kinda a stickler. I bring them in low 40s. Mid 40s if they're wet.

We've got lows in the upper 50s -> low 60s thru next Monday then 49 and 48 so I'm just not sure what to do.

That sounds safe to me. Mine have been outside in 47 degree weather, no ill effect.

We get down to about 45 minimum in winter no problem. As long as it warms up during the day.