Each monthly issue of the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society 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 Jason Chretien – While not formally surveyed, I have found that many people who grow plants as a hobby are naturally curious. Thinking about plant growing with a beginner’s mind is about being curious, open to innovative ideas, eager to learn – not based on preconceived notions or prior knowledge, but approaching what we do with a sense of wonder. …
At HSCSS’ December Winter Holiday Party, Jerry Jost humbly accepted the Martin Schweig Appreciation Award for 2022. Named for longtime HSCSS advocate and volunteer Schweig, the award honors members who freely offer their time, energy and skills for the betterment of the club. …
The new year will take Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society back to its historical home at Missouri Botanical Garden. The January 8 club meeting will be held at the Commerce Bank Center for Science Education, an MBG facility located at 4651 Shaw Blvd., several blocks west of the main garden entrance. …
By Mike Hellmann – There are a few key points to remember when preparing to limp your plants through the winter. First is to grow them well to become healthy over the summer so they are better able to overcome the long, punishing season indoors. Second is remembering the fact that you want your plants dormant (except for winter growers) during their stay indoors. …
By Emily Hall – When I first began collecting succulents, it was all about the spines. Perhaps my Midwestern suburban life was too dull, and I craved the kind of danger that only plants that could take out an eye would provide. It was cacti for me, and the spinier the better. Gradually, however, my collection has softened. A row of Adenium obesum, spineless and charming, now sits in my south-facing kitchen window. …
Since HSCSS was forced to end meeting in person for almost two years due to the pandemic, we now continue to move forward with a rebuilding phase in person again. We are asking for the experience of our older members to combine with the enthusiasm and experiences of our newer members to continue to build a synergism, a mutually beneficial exchange, making us a stronger …
We are now ready to take orders for this year’s club T-shirts. The order deadline is July 5, so get yours in ASAP. This new shirt features Aztekium ritteri and includes the HSCSS logo and “80 Years” icon. Members can choose from several shirt styles and a range of shirt colors. To order, contact Joe Merkelback at jemerk2@yahoo.com or 573-275-0021, and give him your name and shirt quantity, style and size. …
After a two-year hiatus, in-person HSCSS club meetings resumed in March with Mike Hellmann and Don Lesmeister sharing the basics of succulent repotting. Hellmann started the demo with a small fockea that was outgrowing its pot. Two euphorbias, two gasterias and a clumping cactus were also repotted for various reasons. Two of the succulents were raised to highlight plant form. …