Coping with the massive amounts of rain we've been having here (east coast of Florida) has been a challenge. I final have it down to a fine art. We bought plastic sheeting and clip them to the fence over the shelves where I have the succulents; also drape them over the tables where I have them. I stick bamboo sticks in the pots to elevate the plastic so it's not clinging to the plant(s). Doesn't take us too long to do it now. Thought we were safe yesterday as it didn't rain all day. However, we go two heavy rainfalls during the night. I hope they will dry out today. I have lost a couple of succulents -- they just turned to mush.

Awesome collection :drool:and your pots! Good idea with the tarp hope it helps

Clever and I love your pots too

Another grouping of succulents







Some of my Desert Roses

Lovely collection! Rains are such a challenge..good covers!

You have a very nice collection, thank you for sharing! I'm sorry to hear that you lost some of your succulents. Hopefully all the rain will be over soon. We've had a lot of rain here lately too. Hubby loves it, but I already miss the sun!

Planto

Elfie, thanks for sharing your beautiful display of both pots, healthy, happy plants and matching décor!

Can you believe that here in Phoenix I have lost several cactus due to rain this summer. This year was our 7th wettest on record. Here's some photos of some my collection after Saturday's rain.

What a lovely collection Nancy! Sorry to hear about some cacti you lost..hope you get new replacements soon!

Everything looks healthy and well taken care of!

Nice collection Nancy. I see that you're organized (you have plant labels!). Some of mine are labelled but most aren't.
We are having another drenching rain. So glad that I got them covered up this afternoon. Hubby helps me do that. He takes one area, and I do another. I have them out in the pool area, as it's sunnier there and less maintenance for me (except when it's raining like this -- which is very unusual).

Those glazed ceramic pots don't dry out fast enought even in tropical climates. Make sure at least the inside is unglazed especially when exposed to rain. Terra cotta is the safest.

Here is my opuntia recovering after being squashed it must have had root rot to crumble the way it did and like everyone here said it would come back and they were right

Sorry, I am late to this thread. But I do find something very interesting from Elfie's 1st collection. In the 2nd pic, at bottom there is a blue fish vase and in it one (or several?) green succ with white dots winds around very much mimicking a Chinese "dragon". Looks like it has head and tail... I wonder what kind of succ it is? Is it easy to get one?

By the way, Elfie, in all your collections do you have any (how many) containers that do not have drainage hole? Any difficulty to keep plants safe in them?

Thanks for sharing.

Fiat, I'm guessing a crested cactus of some kind...???

@Fiat,
I believe the one you're asking about is Opuntia cylindrica cristata. I took this from Cactus Collection's website (http://www.cactusshop.com/libr...):

"Opuntia cylindrica is native to Ecuador and Peru. Forms an arborescent, branching specimen to 12' with time. This is a cristate form, producing "fanned" growth of emerald green with white areoles and tiny spines.Cristate forms generally occur when injury occurs to the plant at a young age (this damage can be due to insects eating the growing tip, or from many other causes, including a genetic predisposition). In reaction to the "injury", the cells at the tip of the branch where growth occurs begin to multiply at a much faster rate and the normal growing tip "goes crazy", creating fantastic whorls and fans. Porous cactus soil with adequate drainage. Bright light with ample airflow. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. Protect from frost."

I can't remember the exact details, but they produce little green "leaves" at certain times of the year and the rest of the year they're gone. They also become more "fuzzy" at certain times of the year with this cobwebby looking white hair. If I remember reading correctly, they are rot prone and adequate drainage is a must.

Planto

Okay, I also found Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica f. cristata in the ATP database. Says on Dave's Garden that Opuntia cylindrica f. cristata is a synonym (I didn't see "f." on Cactus Collection's website) for Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica f. cristata.

Planto

explanation for f. cristata = http://www.cactus-art.biz/note...

Tarev,
I always wondered what the f. stood for when used with f. cristata. "Forma cristata"

Interesting!

Planto