Opuntia

Opuntia

Also called the Prickly Pear cactus, Opuntia has more than 300 varieties. You’ll find it in landscaping in South Carolina, and in random locations. It is said that the enslaved Africans planted prickly pear cactus to mark cemeteries and to discourage spirits from walking the earth. We once talked to a customer that planted it outside their daughter’s bedroom window…

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

Opuntia microdasys, or Bunny Ears cactus, is the most popular Opuntia at Growing Hobby. Out in the open, the most common Opuntia is the humifusa, or eastern prickly pear. Very rare but beautiful is the Carolina Prickly Pear, Opuntia tunoidea, with bluish pads and bright yellow flowers.

Light

Opuntia prefer full sun.

Temperatures

Many opuntia are hardy to extremely cold temperatures. We recommend protecting Prickly Pear cactus when temps are below freezing to keep the fluid in the pads from freezing and damaging the cactus from the inside out.

Watering

Opuntia can be watered twice monthly in the summer and once monthly otherwise. Opuntia does well planted directly in the ground, and they can survive on natural rainfall.

Toxicity

Prickly Pear fruit is often used for candies and jellies, but the fruit has fine spines that are difficult to remove.  Opuntia cactus pads are said to be dangerous, if not poisonous, to humans and pets.

Growth

Opuntia can grow to 20′ in its native habitat.

Origin

Opuntia can be found across North, Central, and South America.

Propagation

Prickly Pear cactus is most easily propagated by stem cuttings.

Dormancy

Opuntia is winter dormant.

Opuntia tunoidea eastern prickly pear

Opuntia tunoidea/macrarthra, or eastern prickly pear cactus, is native to South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear flowering

Prickly pear Opuntia is often used in landscaping in South Carolina.

Opuntia prickly pear cacti assortment

Opuntia prickly pear cacti: left – microdasys rufida (red bunny ears), center front and back – Argentine, right – microdasys (bunny ears).

opuntia wave cactus

Wave Opuntia is easily propagated from stem cuttings.

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

opuntia crested roller coaster cactus

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Moon Cactus

Moon Cactus

Gymnocalycium

Moon Cactus, or Gymnocalycium, are brightly colored, eye-catching, cacti.  Since the toppers are grafted onto dragonfruit cactus, you’ll water them more often, as you would a tropical cactus.

Close up beautiful flower of Moon Cactus

Most Popular Types

These fun cacti come in pink, red, orange, and purple. We’ve even seen some that look like they’ve been tie-dyed!

Light

Full sun

Temperatures

The dragonfruit can withstand temperatures down to 33°F, but only for short periods of time.

Watering

For gymnocalycium in its natural state, water only when the soil has been completely dry for a week or so. For the grafted varieties (colorful balls on top of green dragonfruit cactus stems), water every 2-3 weeks.

Toxicity

Non-toxic to people and pets.

Growth

In nature, gymnocalycium is earth-toned. These colorful toppers are mutant hybrids lacking chlorophyll, needing to be grafted on dragonfruit segments to receive nutrients.

Origin

Paraguay and Argentina

Propagation

You’ll see offsets growing from the colorful ball topper. These offsets will not survive if removed, unless they are grafted onto a base plant. If the base plant grows additional limbs, it’s best to remove them and grow them into a separate plants – or use them as base plants.

Dormancy

Winter dormant

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii moon cactus

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, the moon cactus, has been genetically engineered to create colorful cacti. Because it can no longer produce chlorophyll, it is grafted onto a dragonfruit cactus for nutrition.

Close up beautiful flower of Moon Cactus

Moon Cactus

Close up of beautiful Moon Cactus

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Mammillaria

Mammillaria Cactus

Mammillaria cacti are so named because each aerole sports a spine on the top half and hair or fuzz on the bottom half. There are more than 200 species of Mammillaria which grow to full height within approximately 5 years, after which time the cactus will begin to spread outward.

 

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

lady finger cactus – Mammillaria elongata, pincushion cactus – M. zeilmanniana, Thimble cactus – M. gracilis fragilis

Light

Direct sunlight

Temperatures

mammillaria cactus prefer to be kept in temperatures between 50 and 85°F.

Watering

Mammillaria do not require frequent watering. Water sparingly when soil is completely dry, and cut water regimine in half during winter.

Toxicity

Non-toxic to animals or humans.

Growth

Mamillaria range in size from 1 inch (fully grown) to 12 inches. Most are ground-hugging.

Flowers in the spring and summer will surround the top of the column, forming a crown.

Origin

Southwest US, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America

Propagation

Cuttings or offsets

Dormancy

Winter dormant.

mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

The thimble cactus is a small mammillaria covered in spines. It grows in clusters.

mammillaria bombycina maybe

Many mammillaria have fine hairs along with sharp spines. Both help to shade the cactus from the harsh sun.

cactus brain Mammilaria elongata cristata

This cactus brain is a crested version of Mammillaria Elongata, Lady Slipper cactus.

Mammillaria spinosissima

mammillaria spinosissima

This spiny fishhook cactus shows its new growth surrounded by white spines.

mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis thimble cactus

mammillaria bombycina maybe

Mammillaria zeilmanniana

Like many Mammillaria, the zeilmanniana variety shows off a ring of blooms.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe are some of the easiest succulents to grow, and they are great for beginner plant collectors. Species range from Chocolate Soldier (Kalanchoe tomentosa) to Fang (K. beharensis), to Flapjack (K. luciae) – not to mention the Mothers listed below.

Yellow Kalanchoe

Most Popular Types

Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe laetivirens), Mother of Millions (K. diagremontiana), and Widow’s Thrill (K. blossfeldiana)

Light

Full sun

Temperatures

Can withstand temperatures down to 30°F for short periods of time.

Watering

Water when completely dry

Toxicity

Toxic to pets

Growth

Some varieties such as Fang (Kalanchoe beharensis) can reach 10 ft in height in native habitat. Some varieties are monocarpic, meaning the plant will die after flowering.

Origin

China, South Africa, and Madagascar

Propagation

Most Kalanchoe produce plantlets along the edge of the leaves.

Dormancy

Summer dormant

Kalanchoe daigremontianum mother of thousands

Plantlets grown along the leaf edges of the Kalanchoe daigremontianum mother of thousands and drop to the ground to spread.

Kalanchoe tomentosa chocolate soldier

Kalanchoe tomentosa chocolate soldier is full of furry fun! (OK, that was cheesy.)

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana supermarket kalanchoe

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has been hybridized to produce blooms all summer. It is called supermarket kalanchoe because of its availability.

Kalanchoe blooms

Kalanchoe typically produce tall inflorescences with bell-shaped blooms.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Hoya

Hoya

Hoyas are exceptional houseplants – climbing or trailing, almost always overflowing from the pots. Also known as wax plants, varieties range from the curly dreadlock-ish Hindu rope (Hoya carnosa compacta) to the grassy-leafed Hoya retusa. They make great collector plants as there are so many stunning varieties.

In their native habitat, hoyas are epiphytic, growing in trees without damaging its host.

 

tillandsia air plant

Most Popular Types

There are so many hoyas on our popularity list! Hoya kerryi has heart-shaped leaves, and the variegated macrophylla has beautiful large leaves. The Hindu rope variety can boast standard green or variegated leaves that start out bright red before turning to a beautiful pink.

Light

These plants prefer bright indirect sunlight.

Temperatures

Hoyas like warmth and humidity. We keep ours at a minimum temperature of 60 degrees F.

Watering

Hoyas can be watered soon after the top inch or so of soil is dry. Frequent watering will speed growth, as long as the plant isn’t kept in soggy soil.

Toxicity

These plants are non-toxic to people and pets.

Growth

Hoyas will climb a trellis or drape from a hanging pot, easily reaching 4 ft in length.

Clusters of small star-shaped flowers are common. Some varieties need to be kept in cool, dry spaces during winter to promote summer flowers.

Origin

They are native to Asia and Australia.

Propagation

The easiest method of propagating hoya is by stem cutting. Make sure you select a spot on the stem with at least one node, preferably two, to ensure growth.

The heart-shaped kerryi are often available for Valentine’s Day, but it’s difficult to tell if they will develop into a full plant or just remain a leaf. It’s all in the cutting technique.

Dormancy

They are winter dormant.

Hoya wax plant

Hoya is also known as a wax plant.

hoya retusa

The Hoya retusa has uncommon needle-like leaves. As with most Hoya, it does well in hanging baskets.

hoya publicalyx

Hoya publicalyx

hoya macrophylla

Hoya macrophylla is a larger leaf variety. The variegated form is very eye-catching.

Hoya Kerryi

The Hoya Kerryi is often available during February for Valentine’s Day gifts.

hoya kentiana bamboo leaf

Hoya kentiana bamboo leaf is a great plant for Hoya collectors.

hoya Hindu Rope regular and variegated

Comparison of Hoya Hindu Rope regular and variegated. In the sun, the variegated variety will have a hint of pink.

Hoya flowers

Hoya flowers are small, but the effect of the ball of star-shaped blooms catches attention.

hoya curtisii string of hearts

The Hoya curtisii is similar to a string of hearts ceropegia, but it has spade-like leaves.

hoya carnosa Krimson Queen

The Krimson Queen Hoya carnosa is stunning when kept in direct sunlight. The variegated leaves take on a strong pink color.

Hoya carnosa Hindu Rope variegated

Hoya carnosa Hindu Rope – variegated variety

Hoya carnosa compacta Hindu rope

Hoya carnosa compacta Hindu Rope starts as a clump of curved leaves to later take on a trailing pattern.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop