I use a fast draining Cactus and Succulent Mix myself.

ok, I have used that before too. The next time I am Walmart I will try to remember and pick a bag up. I am just beginning to add some of the pretty succulents/cacti. Do you have many of those. I wish my Cobweb would multiply!!

More than I said I was going to have here in TN.

Here are a few:

If I remember correctly, the reason to let the succulents callous over is to prevent fungal rot from forming, so yeah, it's always a good idea.

Good job, Fixpix!

I've never had any problems with fungal rot whether calloused or not. So there you go. Everyone's experience is different, I guess.

Huh, interesting. I'm betting you use a purchased soil mix? Might be cleaner than dirt from outside.

Sometimes.

Good Morning everyone!! I was doing a little research and found this thread. Not sure if this is the right one to post in but here it goes..... I have a couple of these plants. Now one has bloomed several years ago and had a yellow looking flower like the pics here and the other one hasn't bloomed at all and it looks like a smaller version. So is the flower the only way to tell what species it is? How do I get them to bloom again? I see that putting them out in summer helps? And not only helps with bloom but growth? Mine haven't grown at all. Can you recommend a good potting mixture and also sun/shade conditions when outside? When is a good time to repot...Spring? I live in CO where the sun can be very hot and burn plants. Thank you in advance for all your help!!!

They are most likely two different plants. Are you able to post pictures?

Yes I can!! I'm out and about right now but when I get home I'll take some pics and post. Thank you!

Ok here are a few pics. It's snowing here and no sun so sorry for the bad pics. I'll try and take some more when there's sun. Thanks for your help!!

Hi Audrie, and welcome!

Wow, those are some fat and happy stapelias. I would say that a commercial cactus/ palm mix would be good, maybe even a little more pumice to add in the drainage. I'm familiar with your brand of sun, being also in the SW. We can grow these outside here, but they need at least dappled or filtered shade, perhaps morning/ eastern sun. But without enough sun, yeah, the blooms won't appear. When you put them outside, you'll want to slowly acclimate them over a period of a couple of weeks. You might want to stick a fluorescent or LED light over it while inside, too.

If you look at Tee's original picture, one page back, you can see what they look like when they're grown with a little more sun and a little less water - if you move yours outside, that's likely what it will look like, just to forewarn you of changes, so you don't panic! It will be perfectly healthy at that point.

Hi Audrie! If I can add to Sheryls' comments... it will be tough to ID without a bloom. There is a wide variety of Stapelias. The one you are growing in the pretty blue container would be the S. gigantea, guessing by the size of the stems. One could only guess what the other is till it delivers blooms.

In my experience, it needs sun to bloom. Morning sun and high or bright afternoon shade should be adequate. My neighbor kept hers indoors, fertilized and watered. It was a healthy plant but never delivered a bloom for at least two years that I knew of. When she gave it to me to abuse, it came forth with blooms.

I am not one to overfertilize succulents and tend to not overwater these guys. Once you have watched them, you will notice the stems will tell you when it needs watering. They are a tough but delightful plant.

pod said:I am not one to overfertilize succulents and tend to not overwater these guys. Once you have watched them, you will notice the stems will tell you when it needs watering. They are a tough but delightful plant.

I agree ... and I hardly ever fertilize my succulents. Caveat: when they come inside for the winter they will sometimes, but not always, get a root drenching with a very diluted solution of BATS (Bayer Tree and Shrub) at 1 ounce per gallon (or two tablespoons per gallon). It is very effective against scale and mealy bugs and root mealies. The dilution can also be sprayed on for these problems. I know that may sound funny to use a tree and shrub product on succulents and cacti but other people I know use it as well to combat insects, root mealies, etc. that might be lurking in the plants. It contains a slow-release fertilizer that doesn't harm the succulents. Well, as another caveat I should say it hasn't harmed the ones I've used it on. The old BATS formula didn't contain fertilizer but most of the new fomulas do, so be sure to check the label. For me, it has not proved harmful with the inclusion of the fertilizer and perhaps has that added benefit.

I use BATS in the fall also but didn't realize they have added fertilizer to it. I have an old container and will have to go read the label. Sad thing is, my container will probably last me for life using it like this. lol

Dilute fertilizers certainly wouldn't hurt these plants. The plant my neighbor gave me was well cared for. She watered and fertilized regularly attempting to make it bloom but it just created lush, healthy growth.

Her plant did not bloom till I moved it outdoors for the summer which makes me think that sun is needed for blooming. Just an assessment (not always correct) Kristi

Fertilizer produces lush plant growth at the expense of blooms. No need to try to bloom and produce seed in order to preserve itself if it doesn't feel constrained to do so.

Yes, sun is definitely needed for blooming. Direct sunlight in whatever amount your climate will allow.

SongofJoy said:Fertilizer produces lush plant growth at the expense of blooms. No need to try to bloom and produce seed in order to preserve itself if it doesn't feel constrained to do so.

And that makes sense ~ thanks. So it was my abuse that triggered the bloom response by neglecting it.

My old one hung in the bald, hot sun one summer and it was magnificent. It didn't get shade till the sun set. The foliage looked terrible but it was huge and bloomed all summer. I'll have to see if I can find an old photo.

I don't mean to sound dogmatic but less is more when it comes to most of these succulents and cacti. They've learned to do and thrive with a lot less than we want to give them. You know the old saying about killing them with kindness. I was sooo guilty of that for a awhile. Learned the hard way.

Not that they can do with nothing at all. Everyone needs a drink now and then.

Hello Sheryl, Kristi & Tee!! Thank you so very much for the warm welcome and wealth of information!!! I have to say that I'm guilty of caring to much for my plants many times too many. My christmas cactus that lived for two years which is a new thing for me as they usually die annually just decided to take a pooper and I lost it. The leaves on one side of the plant were shrivelly and fine on the other side. I took it out of the pot and the roots on the healthy side were growing and doing well. Nothing on the other. Have no idea. Another instance, my best friend gave me hens and chicks from hers and I killed them by overwatering. She gave me some the next year and I hardly watered them and I have had them for 2 years now!!

I would usually buy the Miracle Cactus and Succulent mix but it tended to get hard and didn't drain well. I'll take a look at my local nursery to see what I can find. I'll wait till Spring to repot though right? I'll definitely put them out next year. I had no idea. I had the one in the blue pot bloom once and boy did that flower smell terrible!!! My husband wanted to cut it off. Putting it outside makes sense as the odor would be minimal if anything at all. Wow!! Tee's plant grew a ton in one year!! Now, I want winter to be over (and it just started) so I can put them out and see them grow. LOL!!!

I never have fertilized my cacti. Is that bad? What does one use for fertilizer? Schultz cactus & succulent? Also, with regard to the Bayer Tree and shrub, does one do this before you bring them in? Can it be used indoors without causing health issues or anything? When you use it to spray on plants, do you do this indoors too? I have an orchid cactus that has been having issues with white fuzzy bugs. I've been using a q-tip with alcohol to clean them up. But not sure if BATS would work.

Kristi, I love your comment of friend giving you the plant to abuse. Yet, you got it to bloom!! What did you do different? Just put it outdoors, water less, fertilizer or no?

LOL!! Just read Tee's comment and it looks like less care is better. It totally makes sense about the bloom, seed on a healthy plant. Must neglect, water less and put outside!!!

Oooo - white fuzzy bugs are bad, BAD! BAT those puppies NOW! Spray, drench, repeat in 10 days.... or beware - they will spread. I ended up with a ton of them and lost some hoyas rather than let it continue to spread. Mealies are quite tough to get rid of - alcohol just didn't get it for me.