Each monthly issue of the Henry Shaw Cactus Digest includes club updates, columns and articles by members on their favorite aspects of cactus and succulent culture. Digest Editor Jolie Krupnik and various club contributors always provide plenty of plant material to ponder.
Follow the links to right to view a sample copy of the Digest or read individual articles. Join HSCSS to receive every newsletter in print and/or electronic form.
By Bob Williams – Most succulent collectors (and many non-collectors) have at least aloe. A number of pests and diseases can attack – and damage – these common plants. Scale, aphids, mealy bugs, snout beetles and mites all affect aloes. Diseases such as basal stem rot, aloe rust and sooty mold can also take a toll on aloe plant health. …
By Mike Hellmann – This article is meant to help us address “bug” issues with a more holistic strategy to prevent, identify early and deal with what is looking to damage our plants long before the damage is done. Bugs are omnipresent and very opportunistic. They can be suppressed, but not eliminated. …
Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society has established a new award to recognize volunteers who freely give their time and energy to support the club. Named in honor of a long-time member who worked for HSCSS on many levels until his passing in 2017, the first Martin Schweig Appreciation Award was presented to Jerry Beckerman. …
By Jolie Krupnik – This summer in my cold-hardy cactus garden, I noticed flat, white spots on some of the Opuntia humifusa pads, but ignored the signs the plants were in distress. A few months later, I lifted the pads and discovered a multitude of what I now know are Chelinidea vittiger or “cactus bugs.” I am not an expert on these destructive insects, but in my Google searching, I discovered that they only feed …
By Mike Hellmann – It is with deep regret that I let you all know that Chuck Hanson passed away on May 14, 2019. Hanson was a dear friend to some of our members and was very supportive of our society. He spoke at several of our regional conferences. He was a speaker and vendor at the CSSA convention we hosted …
By Pat Cosgrove – HSCSS member Tracy Vymola gave up smoking several years ago. Little did she know that she would be trading one addiction for another: She is now a self-described seedaholic. Although she had been collecting cacti and succulents for years, she found that growing succulents from seed was relaxing and …
By Pat Cosgrove – We in the St. Louis region are fortunate to have within driving distance Drummond Nursery, located near DeSoto, Mo. It offers four greenhouses packed with an array of cacti and succulents. Fred and Gladys Drummond began their business in 1968 by producing plants for terrariums, which were …
By Jolie Krupnik – Last spring and summer, I devoted my time to planting cold-hardy cacti, purchased mostly from Leo Chance during his visit to our club in May 2014. St. Louis’ latest winter brought many single-digit nights, sleet and snow, but our total amount of precipitation was less than normal. Wet and cold, …