Part 1: The Science Behind It – By J. Eric Driskill – I have consistently used a raised bed after I saw such amazing growth results for so many plants. I know a raised bed works, but biology, botany and horticulture articles discuss how differences in container size, including raised beds, affect plant growth. Data in these articles can broadly apply to any plants, including succulents. …
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. …
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. …
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. …
By Eric Driskill – When I heard about and joined the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society, I wasn’t new to growing and collecting cacti, but I had no idea how little I knew. Joining our local society, I was immediately amazed that there were even a couple of other people who enjoyed these plants enough to collect them, much less join or participate in a “society.” …
By Mike Hellmann – Now that the end of summer is here, it would be an understatement to say the past 18 months have been rough. No matter who you are or where you live, you’ve been affected by this global pandemic. The silver lining for most of us is that we’ve had our plants on which to focus, distract us and relieve stresses. For this program, several members will share their winter care tips to help you transition your plants into dormancy. …
By David Wolfe – In an engaging Zoom presentation during the February 2021 HSCSS meeting, retired pro gardener Leo Chance recommended a list of cold-hardy cacti and succulents for growing outside in St. Louis. Several Gymnocalycium species, for example, are rather hardy, bloom consistently and …
By Bob Williams – There are two ways that cucumber beetles can damage plants. First are the larvae. They have a very hearty appetite and can devour the roots in a very short time. The adult beetles feed on the leaves of plants. This is where the real damage occurs. When the beetles eat the leaves and stems, the consumption does not really damage the plants. Bacteria wilt causes the damage. …