maintenance

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Top Maintenance Tips for the Ming Thing Cactus Succulent Plant

by Giancarlo Perlas

The Ming Thing Cactus is not something that you see in gardens every day. This peculiar succulent plant looks deformed, which should come as a nice find for plant parents who are into something out of the ordinary.

We don’t know where Ming Thing got its name from. However, it seems like a fitting name since it’s as strange as the monster in an old Kurt Russell movie, the Swamp Thing in DC comics, and the Man-Thing in Marvel comics. Its Latin name ‘Cereus Forbesii Monstrose’ further emphasizes its bizarre nature too. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, ‘monstrose’ in botany points to a plant that has abnormal, distorted, and disfigured growth.

The Ming Thing can grow up to 12 inches tall with proper care. It has bulbous stems clumped together, which forms its irregular shape.

Don’t let its appearance intimidate you though. Despite its exotic look, the Ming Thing is actually easy to maintain as long as you follow these simple but important tips:

1. Sunlight

Like all other cacti, the Ming Thing loves the sun. Make sure that it gets at least two to six hours of direct sunlight during the day. However, if you spend most of your day outside of your home and you don’t have time to check it every now and then, just place it in a partially shaded area that has the most exposure to the sun during the daytime.

2. Temperature

This succulent is cold-hardy because it can survive low temperatures around 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Just to be safe though, place it under a grow light when temperatures during the cold season are already close to zero to supplement the lack of sunlight.

3. Watering

As a cactus, the Ming Thing does not require much watering to survive. Just sprinkle some water on it using a mist spray bottle to maintain its moisture during warm weather at least once a day. If the plant starts looking too dry with light patches and cracks on its skin, shorten its watering intervals slightly or add more water into it if needed.

As much as possible, avoid watering it during the cold weather. Too much water can damage its roots and may cause them to rot. Signs of overwatering include soggy leaves and having a lot of dark patches on their surface.

4. Succulent Plant Pot

You can use clay, plastic, or ceramic pots for growing the Ming Thing. See to it that the container has holes at the bottom that serve as drainage for excess water to avoid soaking the roots for long periods. As mentioned earlier, the stagnation of water at the roots can lead to rot and decay if left unchecked.

5. Soil

A potting mix consisting of loam and sand is the ideal combination for the Ming Thing. This mixture ensures better airflow and water circulation especially in the roots of the plant.

Ming Thing Cactus Flowers

After all these have been said and done, owners of the Ming Thing can bear witness to its flowering. Depending on its variant, the cactus may produce funnel-shaped flowers with white petals and purple or lavender hues. The beautiful flowers provide a contrasting appeal to the alien-like form of the plant.

5 Tips On Caring For Succulents in Winter

by Giancarlo Perlas

When the temperature drops to below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, it might be a signal for you to bring your succulent plants indoors. This will allow the plants like CAL Farms 2″ Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents to grow healthily without being subjected to the harsh weather conditions that winter brings. Though you can choose to grow cold-hardy succulents if you live in areas that have cold weather all-year-round, the lack of diversity might bore you.

Start deciding which succulent plants you want to bring in around August or September. Of course, transferring your plants inside is not as easy as it sounds. We don’t have as much space indoors as we have outdoors and it might even be a logical nightmare to bring the plants indoors, water them there, and find enough sunlight for them.

Here are 5 tips on providing proper care to your succulents in winter:

1. Water the Plants Outside Before Bringing Them In

It will be a hassle to water the plants indoors because where will the water go once it drains? It will take a lot of your time to bring the plants to the sink and wait for them to stop dripping. What you can do is to water them outside for one last time before bringing them indoors. That way, you’ve saved one water cycle and your house will stay nice and dry.

2. Use a Well-Draining Soil

To make it easier for the plants to transition from your outdoor garden to the insides of your home, you must use a well-draining soil and ensure that your container has drainage holes. Succulents will grow better indoors if they have the right soil and the right container. You can mix your own well-draining soil or you can use some premixed ones, so you won’t have to slave for hours finding the right balance.

3. Prepare the Pot for Inside Use

You are not only bringing the succulents inside, you’re bringing the pots and containers, too. Prepare the pots by removing any leaves or debris from the pot. If the pots and containers have dried out leaves in them, remove those and reapply your top dressing. This will make sure that the pot looks nice; as if it is new again.

4. Use the Right Amount of Water

Many succulents are dormant during the winter, so they don’t really need that much water. Some can grow actively and demand less attention during the winter. Isn’t that the best? Before winter even comes, you need to check the variety of succulents you have, so you can read about the best way to care for them during the season. If your succulents grow during the winter, they will most likely need water more often. But keep in mind that the general rule is to water the plants only when the soil is completely dried.

5. Get Plenty of Sunlight

The most difficult thing to provide to your plants during the winter is sunlight. Place your succulents near a window that gets the most light. Ideally, the window should get the brightest light all day. The winter days are shorter, so you need to make sure that the succulents are exposed to whatever kind of sunlight there is for at least six hours a day. You can also use grow lights, though that will be a lot of work.

How To Successfully Revive Your Overwatered Succulents

by Giancarlo Perlas

What most people are worried about when it comes to succulent plants like CAL Farms 36 of 2″ Beautiful Rosettes Succulents is the possibility of overwatering them. Since we are used to watering our garden plants on a regular basis (read that as daily), we might do the same to the succulents. The problem is that succulent plants are not water-hungry. They can go without water for days, but that does not mean that they can live without at least being watered a day or two each week.

Overwatering succulents can cause it to die prematurely. Dead leaves at the bottom of the succulents are fine and sometimes, even expected. What you should be worried about are dead leaves on the upper part of new growth. This signifies a problem in the maintenance of the plants and it is usually because the succulents have been overwatered or underwatered. Using the wrong soil can also cause a problem for your plants. The same goes for containers.

One of the tell-tale signs that your plants are overwatered is if the leaves are starting to turn a bit yellowish and transparent. They may also be soggy or mushy to the touch. An early sign of overwatering is when the leaves start to fall off with just a slight bump. However, once you noticed black spots on the leaves or the stem of the plants, that means that the problem is severe and it may be difficult to save the succulent.

Before deciding which succulent plants to grow, you must first study what their needs are in terms of watering and sunlight. This will help you decide on which fits your lifestyle. Some succulents are more sensitive to overwatering than other breeds.

The Echeverias, for example, is one of the most sensitive succulents plants to overwatering. After two or three days with too much water, these beautiful plants may rot and die almost immediately.

Saving a Withering Succulent

To avoid overwatering your plants, you must have a well-draining soil and you must make sure that the soil is completely dry before watering the plants again. Most succulents can go three days to a week without getting water. So, when in doubt, it is best to just wait and test if the soil is completely dry.

As soon as you notice the signs that your plants have been overwatered, what you should do is to immediately cut back on your watering schedule. You should also check your soil mixture because you may need to change it. But if you’re seeing black spots on the leaves and the stems, you would have to perform a little surgery on the plants.

To remove the black spots, cut off the top of the plant and trim away any black spots. Give the plant three to five days to dry out and plant it again in a new soil. The original plant may not survive the overwatering, but there’s a good chance that you could propagate a new plant from the old one. This time, make sure to water it just right.

4 Succulent Plants That Require The Least Maintenance

by Giancarlo Perlas

We all know that the reason why succulent plants like CAL Farms Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents become our favorite house plants is because of it’s easy-to-maintain nature. If you don’t have the time to water plants and put them under sunlight every single day, just go and get yourself a cactus or a rosette like? It’s a quick-to-maintain house plant that looks perfect on our windowsills or perched atop our porches or as a centerpiece on the table.

The benefits of succulent plants are most notable during the winter season, when it’s gray and dark and dreary outside and we need a little green in our lives. Having succulent plants inside our homes allows us to breath better and live fuller.

If you’re looking for succulent plants to take care of, here are the four plants that are perfect for beginners:

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera isn’t just good for the skin, the hair, and our health. You don’t simply find these in the ingredients of your favorite juice mix or your shampoo. It’s actually an attractive clump of erect, gray-green leaves with serrated margins that are sometimes complemented with by tall spikes of tubular yellow flowers. A cut of aloe leaf can soothe minor burns, making this a kitchen staple for many homes.

Place the plant under direct sunlight for six hours a day and water only when the surface soil has dried up. It can withstand partial sun, but the leaves will become unhealthy.

2. Spider Plant

Spider plant is a favorite since Victorian times. The tall plant stands or hangs in baskets that allows the “spiders” to cascade, creating a beautiful effect for the plant. The long and slender leaves help purify the air indoors, and they may be all green or spiked with yellow and arching outward gracefully. Sometimes, there are tiny white summer flowers, but these are not too common.

When the plants reach about two inches across, detach and pot them separately, or keep them attached to the parent plant. Spider plants are best placed under bright but indirect light. You should water them regularly, but be careful not to get the soil too wet.

3. Christmas Cactus

Sometimes also called the crab cactus, this familiar holiday plant is a tree-dwelling cactus plant with arching and segmented leaves. It has claw-like flowers with colors of vivid red, pink, orange, cream, or purple at the ends. Though they lack the sharp spines that define a cacti, these are true members of the cacti family.

Christmas cactuses need bright lights and their yearly supply of water. After flowering, you only need to water these minimally for a period of three months. Then, when it’s spring or winter, water them regularly when the soil feels dry.

4. English Ivy

When placed outdoors, the English ivy is lovely but can be uncontrollable. However, since it is easy to maintain, it best suits the busy lifestyle. To grow them indoors, transfer them in containers or use them as fillers for large containers or hanging baskets together with other varieties of succulent plants.

Similar to many houseplants, the English ivy prefers bright indirect sunlight. Watering the plants should be done regularly and the potting mixture should not be allowed to dry. When the ivy becomes unruly, trim it to shape.

Top 7 Reasons Why Succulents Are The Best Plants Ever

by Giancarlo Perlas

Do you have a green thumb? Or not? While many people love looking at flowers, plants, and other kinds of succulents, not all of us have the capacity to grow them. There are very few people who have the “green thumb,” as they call it, that magical touch that allows plants and flowers to grow under their care. Luckily, we now have succulents to make us feel better about not being able to grow plants and flowers in the garden.

If you are a frustrated gardener or you simply like seeing plants inside your homes, a succulent plant is the best option for you.

Here are our top 7 reasons why succulents are the best plants to take care of:

1. They are Low Maintenance

Succulents need little sunlight and water. You can leave them for half a day under the sunlight (while you are working) and then take them back in after you come home from work. You can water them before you leave, and then allow them to dry up before watering them again when you come home. It takes very little effort to make sure they grow healthily.

2. They Come in All Colors

Whether you want them in girly colors of pink and lavender or you want them in earthy and natural colors like green, you’ll never have a hard time looking for the color of your liking. Succulents come in all kinds of colors you’ll be amazed at how many are available in the market.

3. They are Attractive as Hanging Plants

One of the things we love most about succulents is they can be tied with a string or a decorative cord and hanged indoors or outdoors. You can hang them in your gardens or inside your homes as decorative centerpieces.

4. They Can Be Transferred in Teacups

Instead of having to buy decorative pots, you can use an old teacup to put the succulent there. It looks dainty and very girly afterwards (if that is the look you are going after). There are other options, too. You can put them in a mini aquarium you haven’t used for years or put them in birdcages all together. They’ll make for an amazing décor.

5. They are Ideal Party Favors

If you don’t know already, succulents like CAL Farms 20 of 2” Beautiful Assorted Variety Succulents make for great party favors. Whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, or a company party, it’s nice to be given a succulent as a giveaway.

6. They Can Be Used as Wedding Décor

You think succulents are only used as living room décor? What’s stopping you from using it as a wedding décor? They can help guests find seats or be used as table centerpieces. You may even turn succulents into a wall décor where guests can take pictures in front of it.

7. They Can Be Turned Into Wreaths

If you’re tired of seeing the old wreaths again and again during the Christmas season, you can turn your succulents into them instead. They are livelier to look at and definitely more interesting than the common items used on wreaths.

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